Tommy Atkins

For other uses of the name Tom, Tommy or Thomas Atkins, see Tommy Atkins (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Tommy Adkins.
"Tommies" from the Royal Irish Rifles in the Battle of the Somme's trenches during the First World War.

Tommy Atkins (often just Tommy) is slang for a common soldier in the British Army.[1] It was well established during the nineteenth century, but is particularly associated with the First World War.[1] It can be used as a term of reference, or as a form of address. German soldiers would call out to "Tommy" across no man's land if they wished to speak to a British soldier. French and Commonwealth troops would also call British soldiers "Tommies". In more recent times, the term Tommy Atkins has been used less frequently, although the name "Tom" is occasionally still heard; private soldiers in the British Army's Parachute Regiment are still referred to as "Toms".

  1. ^ a b Who is Tommy? Where does the term ‘Tommy’ come from?, rbli.co.uk, Retrieved 2024-01-25