The following rhyming slang letter appeared in a World War 1 British ‘trench journal’, or soldiers’ newspaper known as The Direct Hit of July, 1917. Apparently penned by Lce-Corp. A. J. Lilliman, RF, it provides an insight into the popularity of rhyming slang among World War 1 troops. It is couched in the form of a letter to the writer’s sister, providing some news of training camp activity and expected departure to the front and of a planned visit home during an upcoming period of leave. It is unlikely that this letter was ever sent, or that it was ever meant to be; it seems more likely to have been a manifestation of the fascination for rhyming slang at the time and place, something the editor of the Direct Hit also mentions in introducing the letter. Many of the terms are not recorded in the usual compilations and dictionaries of rhyming slang, or have other meanings, and so can either be considered personal inventions of the writer and/or terms that had a brief and perhaps restricted currency among those with whom he socialised.
MY DEAR JUST-MISSED-‘ER,
Many thanks for the all-the-better and the Windsor Castle received the last pip-squeak. I am glad to hear mother and the old pot-and-pan are still keeping fit, and that the Giddy-Gaby is doing well. The contents of the parcel were highly appreciated by the Sain-Foys in my water-butt; the piper’s knees went down well for supper with a piece of mine-host made in front of the old-cove, and a drop of pig’s ear. The you-can-bets smoked like small American bars. Keep on sending the bones-and-rags. The give-and-take was one of the best, whilst the small-kits came in very handy on the stiff-as-starch.
We are all still hiding in the rob-and-pillage and expect to be here until the lager beer. I suppose we shall be going on-our-knees early in the wedding ring; it is quite time we put some of the Germans’ Hampstead Heath down their ugly nanny-goats. I am fed-up with cleaning my small-trifle to satisfy the Sergeant’s mince pie, and with firing nothing but muddy-banks.
I went sick the other day with a saucy-goat, but the oh-dear-oh! only gave me a darling-mine with Sleeping Beauty, so I went on first-aid the following day. I am pleased to say I am quite William-Tell again now, although the tough-as-leather has left me off with a bit of a up-the-hill and a slight old-toff.
I had a double-mine from Jimmy last week. He has been in the iron-wrenches for three weeks now, and so far has come through all John-Bright. He says he is going back to the fried-fillets in a day or two for a give-and-be-blest. I am glad he is safe and baker’s-round, for Jimmy was always a good world’s-endt o me.
Now I must hurry up with my you-and-me, get a wave-after-wave and a shine up just call in the always-man to light me to my white-and-red tonight, and then I’m off to the knock-me-down to see the pictures at the new near-and-far.
I am hoping to see you shortly, for I believe we are to get four day’s Adam-and-Eve. So keep you’re eye on six o’ clock, and be sure to meet me at the Birth-of-a-Nation when I let you know the only-way I am coming, and the time the might-and-main will arrive.
Write soon, and don’t forget the old-nags.
Your loving Brother, SAM.
Lce-Corp. A. J. Lilliman, RF.
The rhyming slang terms used in this letter translate as:
just-missed-her sister
all-the-better letter
Windsor-Castle parcel
last pip-squeak last week
old pot-and-pan old man (father)
Giddy-Gaby baby
the Sain-Foys the boys
water-butt hut
piper’s knees cheese?
mine-host toast
old-cove stove
pig’s ear beer
you-can-bets cigarettes
American bars cigars
give-and-take cake
small-kits biscuits
stiff-as-starch march
rob-and-pillage village
lager-beer new year
on-our-knees – overseas
wedding-ring spring
Hampstead Heath teeth
nanny-goats throats
small-trifle rifle
mince-pie eye
muddy-banks blanks
saucy-goatsore throat
oh-dear-oh! MO – Medical Officer
darling-mine number nine pill ( a laxative)
Sleeping Beauty duty
first-aid parade
William Tell well
tough-as-leather weather
up-the-hill chill
old-toff cough
double-mine line (letter)
iron-wrenches trenches
all John-Bright alright
fried-fillets billets
give-and-be-blest rest
safe and baker’s-round safe and sound
world’s-end friend
you-and-me tea
wave-after-wave shave
always-man batman
broom-handle candle
white-and-red bed
knock-me-down town
near-and-far cinema
Adam-and-Eve leave
[the] six o’ clock clock
Birth-of-a-Nation– station (from the title of D W Griffith’s movie just released at this time)
only-way day
might-and-main train
old-nags fags (cigarettes)
GRISTLY HISTORY 