Odd Job Titles of the Royal Navy Quiz

Answer: Radio Operator (Tactical)

Bunting Tossing and Flag Wagging related to the use of flags in signalling, and indicating what ships were doing, where a specific flag, or combination of flags, would be hoisted - e.g. conducting flying operations, diving, preparing to leave harbour.

Answer: The First Lieutenant

The Jimmy, or Jimmy The One, was the First Lieutenant. In all but the biggest of ships he was the Executive Officer and second-in-command.

Answer: A member of the Fleet Air Arm

WAFU was a usually derogatory term used by members of the General Service (largely seagoing) for members of the Fleet Air Arm, who tended to spend most of their time ashore in air stations and, when they were on board ship, spent most of their time in their bunks.

The acronym comes from a special anti-static, sheepskin-lined leather jerkin once issued to Weapon And Fuel Users, although sailors have a number of less complimentary alternatives.

Answer: A Cook

Clacker is Royal Naval slang for pastry!

Answer: An Electrical Mechanic

Greenies were electrical mechanics; the name comes from the green identifying cloth once worn between the gold stripes of Electrical Engineer officers before they were absorbed into the General List.

Answer: Royal Marines

The term Bootneck may derive from the fact that Royal Marine tunics used to have a leather collar piece.

Answer: The Physical Training Instructor

The name Clubs, short for Clubswinger, comes from the PTI's badge, which shows a pair of Indian Clubs.

Answer: Chief Bosun's Mate

The Buffer was the First Lieutenant's right hand man - a Chief Petty Officer in a large ship, and a Petty Officer or Leading Seaman in smaller ones. He was responsible for all the seamanship aspects of the ship - boats, ropes, lifesaving equipment etc.

Answer: Master At Arms

The Master At Arms was the head of the Regulating Branch onboard - in effect the ship's Chief of Police, and he was assisted by Crushers (Leading Patrolmen).

Answer: The Supply Officer

The Supply Officer was responsible for all the logistics aspects of the ship's life - food, spare parts, clothing, cash and pay, administration, correspondence, fuel, ammunition etc. The word is a corruption of the old word purser.

Answer: An Officer's Steward

This unfortunate and unpleasant nickname goes back to the days before ships had fitted "heads" or toilet fittings, and officers' stewards would have to clean "everything" in their cabins.

Answer: A Naval Air Mechanic (Ordnance)

Bombheads were the guys who armed aircraft on the flight deck; they could all scratch their ankles without bending down!

Answer: Dentist

Only carried in the biggest of ships, such as aircraft carriers, the Fang-Farrier's nickname is fairly obvious in its roots! They were also occasionally called a Toothwright or even, after a certain film was released, Top Gum!

Answer: Look after stores

Jack Dusty comes from the older name Jack o' the Dust, who in Nelson's navy looked after the food, especially flour, biscuits etc, but by the 1960s the Stores Accountant branch looked after every type of stores and spare parts held onboard.

Answer: The Padre

Padres, or chaplains, had the biggest list of nicknames, including Bish, Bible Puncher, Bible Basher, Devil Dodger, Dodgy Deacon, God Botherer, Maker's Rep, Holy Joe, and (my favourite) Sin Bosun. We used to take great delight, when one joined our ship for a short time, in allocating them the mess number 666.