Cuthberts: A name in the war, coined by "Poy,"[1] the cartoonist of the Evening News, and colloquially adopted by way of contempt for fit men of military age, particularly in Government Offices, who had not been "combed out" for the Army. Also, for men who deliberately avoided military service such as conscientious objectors, etc. In Poy's cartoon the "Cuthberts" were represented as frightened looking rabbits.[2]
References / notes
- ↑ Born Percy Hutton Fearon on 6 September, 1874, in Shanghai to English parents, his pseudonym was a creation whilst living in New York. His friends pronounced his name Poycee (with that familiar New York twang) and the result, when shortened, became "Poy".
- ↑ Edward Fraser and John Gibbons (1925). Soldier and Sailor Words and Phrases. Routledge, London p.69.
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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