The name “Tommy Atkins” is a generic term for British soldiers, with origins dating back to the mid-1700s. Its popularity increased after Rudyard Kipling’s poem “Tommy” in 1892, and soldiers began to bear the nickname with pride after World War I. The name reminded soldiers of their commonalities and created feelings of camaraderie and pride.
The name “Tommy Atkins” is used to refer to any British soldier, much like “John Doe” is an anonymous, average person in many English-speaking countries. In the modern British Army, Tommy Atkins is usually shortened to “Tom” and is more commonly used in some branches of service than others. The origins of Tommy Atkins are a bit obscure and a number of theories have been posited as to why this name has become so closely associated with the military common in British culture.
The first recorded use of “Tommy Atkins” to refer generically to soldiers dates back to the mid-1700s, when a plantation owner in the Caribbean reported the performance of a group of soldiers assigned to him. By 1815, “Tommy Atkins” had also become a common figure in military manuals, being used as an example for various situations, just as Jane Doe sets an example for hypothetical situations in many American courtrooms.
Some people have suggested that Tommy Atkins was named after a soldier observed in battle by the Duke of Wellington. Although the original Thomas Atkins allegedly died shortly after meeting the Duke, he is said to have claimed he was not distressed by his death as it was “all in a day’s work”, impressing the Duke with his courage and commitment to duty . More likely, the name was simply a good alias suitable for a general soldier.
Whatever the origins, Tommy Atkins became popular in 1892, in Rudyard Kipling’s poem, “Tommy.” The poem launched the name into popular culture, and during World War I, British soldiers were referred to as Tommies both by themselves and by the enemy. Famously, the Germans used to shout “hey Tommy” across the lines in the trenches to get the attention of bored British soldiers.
Upon their return from the war, the Tommies found themselves treated with respect, reverence and appreciation by the British people and began to bear the nickname with a badge of pride. Military service often creates feelings of camaraderie and pride in those who participate, and some may have relished the idea of being treated as a collective entity that had worked to protect Britain. Having been given a nickname that could be used to refer to anyone, British soldiers were reminded of their commonalities, which spanned class, religion and politics.
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