Canteen medal: The Good Conduct Medal awarded to men with four good conduct stripes. Being sometimes gained by men who were hard drinkers, but had sufficiently strong heads to avoid betraying themselves and so escaping a charge of being drunk, the medal acquired often jestingly the name of Canteen Medal.
Also, an old Army term for beer stains on a soldier's tunic. [1]
References / notes
- ↑ Edward Fraser and John Gibbons (1925). Soldier and Sailor Words and Phrases. Routledge, London p.47.
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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