Encyclopaedia Bratanica

Aunties

A pub hidden behind the Princess Mary's Hospital. (Wellhead Inn)

Astra

Camp cinema, very popular with brats.

Bed Tipping

The act of overturning a bed, preferably whilst still occupied.

Bint

(Girl - deriv. Arabic: girl, daughter)

Boggies

National Service airmen.

Bull night

Barrack rooms cleaning

Bumf

Paperwork, from the expression Bum Fodder, aka toilet paper.

Bumper

Heavy weighted brush, used for polishing the centre deck.

Bunk

Single rooms in barrack blocks. There was a small bunk to each room for the Leading Apprentice IC the room and one larger roon per two-room floor for the Cpl Apprentice IC the floor.

Camp bicycle

A local 'friendly' lass.

Jankers - confined to camp. A punishment meted out to recalcitrant brats in preferred measures - e.g. 3, 7, 14 days.

Court School of Dancing

Place in centre of Aylesbury where many apprentices learnt how to dance before going to Hazels or the Town Hall to pick up the girls.

DTTP

Days to pass out parade. Usually displayed on the NAAFI dartboards.

F000

Toilet paper

F1250

RAF Identity Card

F295

Leave Pass

F252

Disciplinary charge form

F700

Aircraft maintenance sign-off form before it became computerised in the early 60s.

Fairies or Gash Trades

'Endearing' term used by Airframes/Armourers/Engines for the electrical/electronic trades: Electrical and Instruments.

Gash

Rubbish

Gen

Knowledge

Genning-up

Revision

God slot

The Padre's session during general service training.

Hairy Mary

The rough serge uniform. Bints loved rubbing against the hairy greatcoat.

Irons

Knike, fork and spoon on which service number was stamped.

Mega

A Very large number.

Nuffield Centre

A popular Services club among Apprentices in London.

Pimple

A grass patch on top of the hill overlooking Henderson-Groves square. A popular place for brats to climb up to and survey the world.

Pit

General term for a bed, which could be quite sunken because of weak bed springs.

Plumbers

Armourers

Polish Avenue

Avenue to the main road at the rear of 2 Wing named in commemoration of the Polish WW2 apprentices.

Posbie

A "tight" or mean person, derived from POSB(Post Office Saving Book).

Reestie

Dirty, Filthy

Rook

Any entry newer than your own entry.

Rook Baiting

Commandeering a "rook" to take part in the NAAFI games. Usually carried out by the senior entry.

Rothschilds' Temple

An area within the grounds of Halton House. Supposedly used for witchcraft practices.

Shreddies

Drawers cellular

Skates Alley

Short cut through woods to 2 wing behind HG Guardroom.

Slim Turner

One of the more humane RAF Policeman at the Henderson-Groves guardroom. He ran the Station broadcasting service.

Snag

Leading Aircraft Apprentice

Snoops

RAF Police

Snowdrop

RAF policeman

T63

Smooth barathea No 1 Home Dress uniform issued in place of the hairy Mary from 1957.

Tank

NAAFI - supplier of Nelson cakes and other delicacies.

Yonks

A long period of time.

Zob, Zobbit

National Service Officer (Schools)

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