The boys in blue: A familiar name for the permanently crippled ex-service men from the Great War, inmates of hospitals in the London area, upwards of 7,000 in number. On their behalf all year round the "Not-Forgotten" Association, of which Princess Mary is patroness, does a splendid work of practical remembrance.
See also "Not Forgotten."
Originally, and for long before the war, the familiar name for all soldier patients undergoing hospital treatment, from the colour of the hospital dress worn. "Boys in Blue" was also a familiar phrase for the navy, brought into vogue by a popular music-hall song. [1]
References / notes
- ↑ Edward Fraser and John Gibbons (1925). Soldier and Sailor Words and Phrases. Routledge, London p.35.
Glossary of words and phrases
The above term is listed in our glossary of words and phrases of the Armed Forces of Great Britain during the Great War. Included are trench slang, service terms, expressions in everyday use, nicknames, the titles and origins of British and Commonwealth Regiments, and warfare in general. These words and phrases are contemporary to the war, which is reflected in the language used. They have been transcribed from three primary sources (see Contents). Feel free to expand upon and improve this content.
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