I don't know what they were smoking in #Dewsbury in 1904, but I'll have some, please. The best thing about this is it's a whole series, published in the #Batley Reporter and Guardian (This example 10 June) . Anyway, Huzzah to #TommyAtkins and members of the #RoyalMoonRakerRegiment #Moon #Scifi #BNA
Another month, another addition to the ever-growing pile of books that claim to “reveal the real Tommy Atkins.” This one dates from 1911. #HistBookChat #TommyAtkins
The Origin of Tommy Atkins
While a definitive answer remains elusive, there is a lot of folklore surrounding how the British soldier got this nickname.
While I don't have the definite answer, this is what I do know:
#MilitaryHistory #BritishArmy #TommyAtkins
robertstjohnsmith.com/post/2025-12...
Pearson's Magazine, December 1914, had these 'war shadow' party tricks to make sure your Christmas party went with a bang... #TommyAtkins #BNA #OldNewspapers #FWW
New Review! #Infantry #AGlobalHistory #JeremyBlack #PenAndSwordMilitary #Spearmen #Phalangite #Bowman #TommyAtkins #GIJoe #Landsers #Squaddies #BlackPowder #SwordAndSpear #HistoricalWargaming @raiderlee.bsky.social @jamesmscott.bsky.social @penandswordbooks.bsky.social
Look UP New Book! #Infantry #AGlobalHistory #JeremyBlack #PenAndSwordMilitary #Spearman #Phalangite #Bowman #TommyAtkins #GIJoe #Landsers #Squaddies #BlackPowder #SwordAndSpear #HistoricalWargaming @penandswordbooks.bsky.social
Both a #PhD and #MillHist win today. I've come across some primary sources that provide a concrete date for the origin of #TommyAtkins, along with a strong lead on who the first Tommy Atkins was. Looks like a trip to Scotland is on the cards to confirm #fww
cartoon showing a soldier, with politicians hiding behind him.
The year 1900 is turning out to be a fine vintage for #politicalCartoons , probably because there was an election and a war on. This one from the Telegram, 9 October. #CartoonHistory #TommyAtkins #Salisbury #Chamberlain #Balfour #BoerWar
I’ve been reading “Death’s Men” by Denis Winter. It’s a sort of social history of British soldiers in the #1stWorldWar. I was struck by this passage from page 62 about the tragic death of a respected officer. #GreatWar #tommyatkins #BritishArmy ##fwwhist #WesternFront @thegreatwargroup.bsky.social
I just stumbled across this interesting example of early #infographic concerning the #BoerWar, originally appearing in the Evening News from 1899, and was updated each week as new troops arrived in the #Cape. #cartoonHistory #TommyAtkins
Here’s a classic joke about old Tommy Atkins, dating back to 1896. It’s certainly not the oldest one, but it’s indeed one of the ‘old ones.’ #TommyAtkins
