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  • The Origin of Tommy Atkins

    calendar Dec 3, 2025 · 12 min read · Newspapers Tommy Atkins Wikipedia John Laffin 1743 1949 1900s 1800s 1700s Soldier Magazine Daily Telegraph File and Folder Lucknow Duke of Wellington Soldier's small book Army Admin Royal Artillery Kipling 1850 1837 Kings Regulations 1829 John William Fortescue Charles Matthew Clode Lord Henry Hardinge War Office Secretary for War Harold Dillon Robert Holden MacKenzie Military Historical Society  ·
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    The Origin of Tommy Atkins

    Part of my PhD research involves scanning through some 70,000 newspaper articles that contain the phrase 'Tommy Atkins' between 1896 and 1926 to identify articles relevant to my thesis. I have written software to aid in this, as well as utilising a stream deck (a Godsend!) — and I even have a pedal underneath my desk …


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  • Weekly Return of Recruits for Regular Army and the Territorial Force From 4th August,1914.

    calendar Jan 28, 2022 · 14 min read · CAB 37/134/22 1914 rush-to-the-colours FWW recruitment Cardiff Scotland August 1914 File and Folder BEF Statistics of the Military Effort Peter Simkins Regular Army Territorial Army Derek R Young Welsh Regiment Patrick Watt Ian Beckett Kitchener Keith Simpson Adrian Gregory Catriona Pennell  ·
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    Weekly Return of Recruits for Regular Army and the Territorial Force From 4th August,1914.

    I am currently teaching myself R and R Studio and, as someone who has spent many an hour typing up tables from old documents, I am planning to put my datasets into a GitHub repository along with the code for anyone who might find them useful. I am not quite at that stage yet but wanted to post this example as it came …


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Robert St John Smith

Leeds, UK.
PhD researcher at Exeter studying the avatar of Tommy Atkins, 1896-1926. MA in Britain and The First World War.
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Featured Posts

  • The Origin of Tommy Atkins
  • Trench Journals: The Red Feather, Journal of the 6th (Service) Battalion, Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry. An Introduction
  • TTKAS: The Heroine of Loos
  • Things They Knew and Saw: An Introduction
  • Soldier-cartoonist: Corporal Harry Cotton, Meteorological Office, 4th Army HQ
  • Bairnsfather’s ‘Old Bill, the influence on Tommy Atkins, and the Better ‘Ole Video Game
  • The Wipers Times Exposé: A Picture of Dorothy Violet Hall emerges
  • Ephemera: Winnie Mary Knight’s Autograph Book: A Glimpse of Bromley in the First World War

Recent Posts

  • The Origin of Tommy Atkins
  • Trench Journals: The Red Feather, Journal of the 6th (Service) Battalion, Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry. An Introduction
  • TTKAS: The Heroine of Loos
  • TTKAS: Soldiers’ Alphabets – is this the earliest example?
  • Things They Knew and Saw: An Introduction
  • The Blighty Bust!: ‘The Bridge Across the Stream’ by Ivor Novello & J.E. MacManus
  • Soldier-cartoonist: Corporal Harry Cotton, Meteorological Office, 4th Army HQ
  • Reference: The Meteorological Office and The First World War

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FWW ARTICLES 18 SOLDIER-CARTOONISTS 12 EPHEMERA 5 SHORT ARTICLES 3 REFERENCES 2 GENERAL 1

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BUDDING BAIRNSFATHERS 12 ARE YOU IN THIS 6 THE WIPERS TIMES EXPOSÉ 6 THINGS THEY KNEW AND SAW 3 FWW DATA 1 THE BLIGHTY BUST! 1 TRENCH JOURNALS 1

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BLIGHTY A BUDGET HUMOUR FROM HOME 13 SOLDIER CARTOONS 13 TRENCH JOURNALS 9 PROPAGANDA 7 WESTERN FRONT 7 SHERWOOD FORESTERS 6 THE WIPERS TIMES 6 YPRES 6 1800S 5 1900S 5 1917 5 NOTTINGHAM 5 1916 4 ARMY SERVICE CORPS 4
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GOLD1 EAST KENT REGIMENT1 EASY SURREY REGIMENT1 EDWARD WADSWRTH1 EDWARDIAN ERA2 EDWARDIAN PROFANITY1 EGYPT1 ELLA WHEELER WILCOX1 ENGLAND AND WALES1 ENGLAND WHAT THOU WERT1 EPIDEMIOLOGY1 ERNEST RONALD SHUTTLEWORTH1 ES SALT RAID1 ESSEX1 ESTRÉES1 EUGENICS EDUCATION SOCIETY1 EXPECTATIONSVSREALITY1 FABIAN SOCIETY1 FILE AND FOLDER2 FIRST DAY OF THE SOMME1 FLANDERS2 FLANDERS MUSEUM1 FLEET STREET2 FLORENCE NIGTHINGALE1 FOLK SONGS1 FOOTBALL AT THE FRONT1 FOOTNOTE INCEPTION1 FRANCE2 FRANK WALCOTT HUTT1 FRED KARNO1 FRED KARNO'S ARMY1 FRED ROBERTS3 FREDERICK ROBERTS1 FRENCH SOLDIERS1 FWW ART1 FWW PUBLICATIONS2 FWW RECRUITMENT1 GALATIC CENTRAL1 GAS2 GAS ALARM1 GASTRONOMICAL DISEASES1 GENTLEMAN-RANKER1 GEORGE MEBORN HUBBARD1 GEORGE WILLIAM MACEY1 GHORANIYEH1 GHQ2 GILBERT FRANKAU2 GIVENCHY1 GLADYS COOPER1 GLASGOW1 GLASGOW PALS1 GOVERNMENT AND MEDIA RELATIONSHIPS1 GROVE PARK1 GROWING UP1 GROWLER1 H. SMALLEY SAMSON1 HAEMORRHAGE1 HAMPTON HALL1 HAROLD DILLON1 HARRY COTTON2 HEALTH OF THE NATION1 HEALTH OF TOWNS1 HEIDENKOPF REDOUBT1 HELFANT1 HENRY CECIL HALL3 HENRY NEWBOLT1 HERBERT JENKINS2 HERFORD1 HERITAGE PLAY1 HERMAN DAREWSKI1 HEROINE1 HESDIN1 HG WELLS1 HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY1 HLI2 HOME FRONT2 HONOURABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY1 HOOGE1 HULLUCH1 HYGEINE1 IAN BECKETT1 IAN HISLOP1 IGNAZ SEMMELWEIS1 ILLUSTRATED SPORTING NEWS1 IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM1 IMR FACTORS1 INDIA1 INFANT MORTALITY1 INFANT MORTALITY RATE1 IRELAND1 IRVINE LOUDON1 ISLE OF ISLAY1 ITALY1 IVOR NOVELLO2 IX CORPS1 J.O. TWISS2 J.P. HARRINGTON1 JACK PEARSON1 JAMES MURRAY LACEY1 JANET CAMPBELL1 JAY WINTER1 JESSIE BELMORE1 JINGOISM2 JOHN BUCHAN1 JOHN FISHER1 JOHN IVELAW-CHAPMAN1 JOHN LAFFIN1 JOHN MAYNARD KEYNES1 JOHN WILLIAM FORTESCUE1 JORDAN1 JOSEPH LISTER1 JOSIAH OLIVER TWISS1 JULIAN CORBETT1 KAZEMATTEN BREWERY2 KEITH PROWSE & CO1 KEITH SIMPSON1 KENT2 KENT COUNTY TERRITORIAL ASSOCIATION1 KHAKI OPINION1 KINGS COLLEGE1 KINGS REGULATIONS1 KIPLING1 KIRKEE1 KITCHENER1 KITE BALLON1 KITE BALLOON1 LA VIE PARISIENNE1 LABOUR BATTALION1 LADIES MEDICAL COLLEGE1 LAMBETH SCHOOL OF ART1 LANCASHIRE1 LANCASTER GAZETTE1 LANCE CORPORAL FRANK K PICKLES1 LANCE-CORPORAL J. M'K THOMSON1 LAND ARMY1 LANDED GENTRY1 LAST POST1 LE PETIT PARISIEN1 LEAFLET1 LEIGH-ON-SEA1 LEO STORMONT1 LEONARD FINDLAY1 LIDDLE COLLECTION1 LIEUTENANT COLONEL MORGAN1 LINE OF FIRE1 LIVERPOOL1 LLOYD GEORGE1 LOCAL MEDICAL OFFICERS FOR HEALTH1 LONDON2 LONDON AIR DEFENCES1 LONDON OPINION1 LONDON REGIMENT3 LONDON THEATRE1 LOOS2 LORD HENRY HARDINGE1 LORD NORTHCLIFFE1 LORD SHAFTSBURY1 LOST GENERATION2 LOUIS PASTEUR1 LUCKNOW1 LUSITANIA1 LYING-IN2 MACEDONIA1 MAJOR CAREW A. BARNETT1 MAJOR HARRY SHIRWELL1 MALPAS1 MANDALAY1 MAPBOX1 MAPDECK1 MAPLE LEAF1 MARGARET BRAZIER1 MARY ANN MURRAY1 MARY TORRANS LATHRAP1 MATERNAL HEALTH1 MATERNAL MORTALITY2 MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE1 MECHANICAL TRANSPORT LEARNERS1 MEDICAL CARE1 MEMORIES THE MAGAZINE OF THE 19TH LONDON OLD COMRADES ASSOCIATION1 MET OFFICE1 METEOR3 METEOROLOGICAL FIELD SERVICE3 METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE3 METEOROLOGICAL OFFICER1 METEOROLOGICAL SECTION1 METHODIST1 MI72 MI7A2 MIDDLE-EAST1 MIDWIFERY1 MIDWIVES1 MIDWIVES ACT1 MILITARY CULTURE1 MILITARY HISTORICAL SOCIETY1 MILITARY MEDAL1 MINISTRY OF INFORMATION1 MOH1 MOI1 MONTHLY REVIEW1 MONTREUIL1 MORALE2 MOSS BROS1 MT1 MURRAY1 MUSIC HALL2 NAPOLEONIC1 NATIONAL WAR AIMS COMMITTEE1 NEUVE CHAPPELLE1 NEW ARMIES1 NEW STATESMAN1 NEWBOLT REPORT1 NEWSPAPERS1 NICK NEWMAN1 NOBILITY1 NORTHCLIFFE1 NOTTINGHAM5 NOTTINGHAM ARCHIVES1 NOTTINGHAM ELECTRICAL CITY DEPARTMENT1 NOTTINGHAM EVENING POST1 NOTTINGHAM FREEMASONS1 NOTTINGHAM GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL1 NOTTINGHAM GUARDIAN1 NOTTINGHAM LOCAL STUDIES LIBRARY1 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ARCHIVES1 NSPCC1 NUTRITION1 NWAC2 OBSTETRICAL SOCIETY1 OFFICIAL PRESS BUEREAU1 OLD BILL1 OLIVER WENDELL-HOLMES1 ONTARIO MILITARY HOSPITAL1 OTC1 PALESTINE2 PARLIAMENTARY RECRUITING COMMITTEE1 PASSCHENDAELE1 PASSING SHOW1 PATRICK WATT1 PATRIOTISM1 PATRIOTISMN1 PAUL ÉLUARD1 PAUL NASH1 PENNINGTON PRESS1 PERTH1 PETER SIMKINS1 PHEASANT WOOD1 PHOSGENE GAS1 PIERRE LOUYS1 POEMS1 PONT NOYELLE1 PONTYPRIDD1 PORT ASKAIG1 POSTCARD1 POSTCARD PROPAGANDA1 POW LABOUR1 PRESS BUREAU1 PROJECTORS1 PROPAGANDA7 PROPAGANDA BUREAU1 PROPAGANDA TECHNIQUES1 PUBLIC POLICY2 PUERPERAL FEVER1 PUNCH1 PYSCHOLOGY1 QUEENS OWN (ROYAL WEST KENT REGIMENT)1 QUEENS OWN (ROYAL WEST KENT) REGIMENT1 RAEMAEKERS1 RAILWAY WOOD1 RAILWAY WORKERS1 RAPHAEL TUCK AND SONS1 RED CROSS2 RED FEATHER1 REGIMENTAL JOURNALS1 REGULAR ARMY1 REGULATION1 RESPIRATORY DISEASES1 RFC1 RHINE1 RHONDA VALLEY1 RICHARD DONALD BELL WOODS2 RICKETS1 RIDDLE OF WIPERS2 RNAS2 ROBERT HOLDEN MACKENZIE1 ROBERT KOCH1 ROBERT MCGOWAN BARRINGTON-WARD1 ROBERT WOODS1 ROLF'S CABARET CLUB1 ROTUNDA1 ROYAL ARTILLERY2 ROYAL COLLEGE OF ART1 ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS1 ROYAL ENGINEERS3 ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY1 ROYAL FUSILIERS2 ROYAL HIGHLANDERS1 ROYAL SCOTS FUSILIERS1 ROYAL WARWICKSHIRE REGIMENT1 ROYAL WELCH FUSILIERS1 RSTUDIO1 RUBÁIYÁT OF A RANKER1 RUDDINGTON2 RUPERT BROOKE1 RUPERT THE BEAR1 RUSH TO THE COLOURS2 S COY PIONEERS1 SABRETACHE2 SAINT-MARTIN1 SAIREY GAMP1 SALONIKA1 SANGFROID1 SAPPER1 SAPPER E. J. COUZENS1 SARAH FOX1 SARAH STONE1 SCHOOL-CHUMS1 SCOTLAND3 SCOTTISH MILITARY RESEARCH GROUP1 SCOUTS1 SCRAPBOOKING1 SEATONS1 SECOND BATTLE OF JORDAN1 SECRETARY FOR WAR1 SENLECQUES1 SERGEANT GEORGE TURNER1 SERGEANT TURNER1 SERGEANT TYLER1 SERGEANTS DINNER2 SEX AND SOLDIERING1 SHEFFIELD2 SHELL SCANDAL1 SHERWOOD FORESTERS6 SHIPSTONES BREWERY3 SHORTLANDS1 SHUNET NIMRIN HILLS1 SIGNALLER1 SINT-JACOBSSTRAAT1 SOLDIER ALPHABETS2 SOLDIER CARTOONISTS1 SOLDIER CARTOONS13 SOLDIER MAGAZINE1 SOLDIER POETS1 SOLDIER SONGS3 SOLDIER'S SMALL BOOK1 SOLDIERS CARTOONS1 SOMME2 SOMMERSET LIGHT INFANTRY1 SONGS3 SOUTHWARK1 SPHERE1 SPRING OFFENSIVE1 SS EMDEN1 ST OMER1 ST. ELOI2 ST. OMER1 STAN LAUREL1 STANLEY MELBORNE MOHR1 STANLEY MELBOURNE MOHR1 STANLEY WOODS1 STATISTICS OF THE MILITARY EFFORT1 STILL BIRTHS1 STILLBIRTHS1 STOCKHOLM1 SUMMERDOWN CAMP1 SUNDAY SCHOOL1 T.E.LAWRENCE1 T.S. LESLIE ALLEN1 TABLE TENNIS1 TATLER4 TENANTED FARMS1 TERRAMESNIL1 TERRITORIAL ARMY1 THE 7TH LONDON REGIMENT1 THE AVESNES ADVERTISER1 THE BANKERS DRAFT1 THE BETTER TIMES1 THE BRYCE REPORT1 THE BUFFS1 THE COLLEGE OF PHYSCIANS1 THE LADY'S MONTHLY1 THE MUDHOOK1 THE OUT-OF-WORK-DONATION1 THE OUTPOST1 THE POW-WOW1 THE PRINCE OF WALES OWN1 THE RED FEATHER1 THE REGIMENT1 THE SOCIETY OF APOTHECARIES1 THE SPRIG1 THE TIMES1 THE WIPERS TIMES6 THE WIPERS TIMES FILM1 THE WIPERS TIMES PLAY1 THINGS THEY KNEW AND SAW1 THINGS WE WANT TO KNOW1 THOMAS EMMANUEL WARD2 THOMAS MOORE EMMANUEL WARD1 THOMAS OSWELL BURY1 TITBITS1 TOMMY ATKINS2 TOXAEMIA1 TRENCH JOURNALS1 TRENCH CULTURE3 TRENCH JOURNAL1 TRENCH JOURNAL EDITORS2 TRENCH JOURNALS9 TUBERCULOSIS1 TURNER & CAEPENEEL MAP1 UNCONFIRMED CARTOONS1 UPPER HATTON1 VAD1 VALENTINE & SONS1 VENERABLE ORDER OF SAINT JOHN1 VERENA HOLMES1 VICTORIAN ERA2 VIDEO GAME1 VIGIL1 VILLERS CARBONNEL1 VIOLET BLYTH PRATT1 VIOLET'S CHRONICLE OF FASHION3 VIOLET'S CHRONICLES OF FASHION1 VOLUNTARY MATERNITY HOSPITALS UK1 WAAC1 WALES2 WAR ILLUSTRATED1 WAR OFFICE1 WAR PROPAGANDA BUREAU1 WAR WEARINESS2 WATCOMBE CIRCUS1 WELLINGTON HOUSE1 WELSH GUARDS1 WELSH REGIMENT1 WEST KENT YEOMANRY1 WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT1 WESTERN FRONT7 WIKIPEDIA1 WILDING JONES1 WILLIAM BUDD1 WILLIAM FARR1 WILLIAM HALL TIMBER1 WILLIAM MORRIS1 WINSTON CHURCHILL1 WIPERS PRINTERS2 WIPERS STAFF3 WIPERS TIMES CONTRIBUTORS2 WOMEN IN WAR1 WOMEN'S HEALTH1 WORKHOUSE1 WORM'S EYE VIEW1 WREXHAM1 YPRES6 YPRES RAMPARTS2 YPRES TIMES1 ZEPPELINS1
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Robert St John Smith ©

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