Nicknames - 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion Ex Members Association

28 Sep 2016

2/4^th Machine Gun Battalion Nicknames

Confirmed by Ron Badock (WX8729), John Gilmour (WX 8622) and/or Borehole Bulletins (BB)

Regimental Number	Name		Nickname	Other Comments
WX7622	ABLETT	Norman Leslie	Normie	Known as Normie. Owned a hardware store in South Beach and worked into his 90’s, never married.
WX17915	ALLEN	Thomas William	Tubby	Because his was a bit tubby.
WX3464	ANDERSON	Claude Leonard	Pills (more often) or Doc
WX8518	ANDERTON	William Francis	Frank	Known as Frank. Was a butcher on Rottnest.
WX3376 WX13468	ANKETELL ANNEAR	Michael J Richard Winston	Mick Win
WX9011 WX7370 WX7046	ARTHUR ARMSTRONG ARMSTRONG	Gerald C Charles W Malcolm	Gerry Blondie Lofty	Story of J Force B.B. Jan 1967
WX8829 WX8682	BAGRIE BAKER	James William Robert Samuel	Jock W R S	B.B. Jul 1963 Joined up with Ron Badock in Norseman, married a workmate of Ron’s sister Effie.
WX8962	BAKER	John Andrew	Jack	Known as Jack. After the war went to Fiji and New Guinea as a plantation manager, retired to the Gold Coast.
WX7587 WX6970	BARBOUR BARNES	Thomas Alfred John	Scottie Shorty	B.B. 1953 Was shorter than Ron Badock and good friend of Bob Chipperfield the tallest man in the battalion.
WX8140 WX9277 WX8796 WX9229 WX11573	BAXTER BEARD BRACKLEMANN BREED BREEZE	Francis J Thomas J Franz Walter Gordon Guyton	Slew Big Tom Brac Billy or Jeep Billy	B.B.1953 B.B. Oct1968. Swan Brewery post war J.G. B.B. Apr1964 Jeep was a cartoon character of the time. B.B. 1951. Worked at Collie Coal Post War J.G.
WX3452	BUNNING	Gavin McRae	Skipper	B.B. Oct 1966 Known as Tom. His father would not allow him to go to university because he was not dux of his year at Scotch College and had to do an apprenticeship in the family business, did become MD from his brother Charlie.
WX15756 WX16405 WX8098 WX7316	BURGESS BURGESS BURGESS BURNS	Alfred John Edward J William Copeland James	Pluto Kegga Bluey Jimmy	B.B.1952 B.B. Oct 1968 J.G. Known as Jimmy.
WX11226 WX9360 WX7325	CAMERON CLARKE CARRUTHERS	Graeme K Edwin John Raymond Francis	Peaky Nobby Bones	B.B. 1950 RB. B.B.1951 Because he was tall and skinny, Bill Castles saw him just before he was killed on Mantai Road suffering PTSD as he had a blank look and didn’t respond to his name so he was a ‘sitting duck’ for the Japanese.
WX8792	CASTLES	Wilfred Thomas	Billy	Known as Billy. In later life lived at the Savoy Hotel in Perth along with good friend Tubby McGhee; always ready to meet his mates at his office in the Hay Street Mall.
WX8397 WX8822	CHIPPERFIELD COOPER	Robert W Henry J	Bob Bluey	Known as Bob. Tallest man in the battalion at 6’8” (Jack Sherman was second tallest). Fairbridge boy. Ghosts in Khaki
WX10282 WX20018	COLLINS CORREY	Charles L John Livingston	Curly	B.B. 1952 Known as Jack.
WX16441	CRANE	Thomas Daniel	Danny	Known as Danny. A ‘hard’ man but a good bloke.
WX5221	CURRIE	Stanley Alfred	Sue	Said his number as ‘5 a pair of two’s and a one. With Ron Badock and Johnny Smith in Saigon at the end of the war.
WX8735 WX8587 WX8778 WX15873	CURTIN DAVEY DAILY DARBY	John Goode William J Louis Joseph Sydney J	Taddy Pop Lou Kid	B.B. 1949 – apprentice jockey post war Known as Lou. A Sandover Medalist who mucked in with Ron Badock, Jack Sanderson and Leo Walsh.
WX7240	DAY	Donald Alexander	Doodah
WX6917	DOODSON	George James	Ghost	Was a cook but not a good one and didn’t look after himself very well, possibly was named after someone saw him covered in flour
WX9391	DOOLAN	Bernard Patrick	Barney	Known as Barney. Ron Badock says Barney is ‘one of the best blokes ever to meet’, a great scrounger.
WX8617 WX9557 WX17881	DORE DORRINGTON DOUST	James John Frederick J Owen Alfred	Jimmy Lofty Snowy	Known as Jimmy. B.B. 1952 B.B. 1952
WX8830	DRUMMOND	Alexander McDougall Donald	Bulldog
WX8584 WX7236	DUNCAN DUNN	John Sharp Cecil Henry	Scotty 2-Pot	B.B. 1966
WX7599	DYSON	Archibald Henry	Strawb	Because of his red hair.
WX16947 WX9101	ECCLESTONE EWEN	Roy Elliot Jack Clifford	Slim Black Jack	B.B. 1953 Big dark skinned fella.
WX4915	FACEY	Albert Barnett		Son of A B Facey the author of ‘A Fortunate Life’.
WX5217 WX8679 WX15719 WX7864	FERRIE FOCH FOOT FLANAGAN	Charles Gill Alfred E Gordon James Joseph	Scotty/Jock Marshall Speed Fatso	Scottish born. B.B. Apr 1966 B.B. 1953 Wasn’t fast – Lived with Aboriginal people in the bush. B.B. Oct 1967
WX9336	GORRINGE	John	Jack or Cody	Known as Jack (or Cocky by Ron Badock).
WX10378	GRAY	Charles William	Tiny	Because he was a big bloke. Went to Korea with Jack Taylor, Ted Roots.
WX3435 WX7246 WX8807	GREEN HADFIELD HALLIGAN	Charles E Ralph W William Arthur	EB Elephant Bum Whacker Bill	Ghosts in Khaki B.B. 1953 Known as Bill. Ran the Piccadilly and York hotels in Kalgoorlie.
WX8718 WX4991 WX7987 WX11202	HAMMER HAMBLEY HANCOCK HAYES	Harry Ernest E George Keith Thomas	Pop Blue Nunky Bully	B.B. 1952 Because of his red hair. B.B. 1951 Named after Bully Hayes who was a famous pirate. RB
WX6968 WX8525	HEFFERNAN HEPPINGSTONE	John C Ian David	Plonk Pop	B.B. 1951 Because he was one of the oldest members of the battalion.
WX8207 WX6602 WX17997 WX17636 WX9418	HEWBY HILL HOLLAND HOLLAND HORN	Arthur S Alan McKay Hubert M Harold W Douglas Radcliffe	Snow Darky Lofty Dutchy Trader	B.B. 1949 B.B.Apr 1966 B.B. July 1969 B.B. July 1963
WX10715 WX8730	KYRIAKOS JENKINS	Jack G A Thomas K	Crackers Sport	B.B 1952
WX9312 WX15744 WX4917 WX7640 WX11316 WX7847	LEAHY LEE LEITH LEE-STEERE LEWIS LYNAM	Michael J Leslie W John B Forrest Laurence H Gordon	Jack Big Les Jock Forrie Strangler Pup	The Story of J Force B.B. Oct 1965 B.B. 1953 Known as Forrie. B.B. 1949 B.B. 1949
WX3440 WX3442 WX3707	McCAFFRey McEWIN MacKINNON	Francis G Oswald S Graham Charles	Butch Galloping Gurty Speed	B.B. 1953 Thought he could beat John Gilmour over 800m in Darwin, not so RB. Because after officer training he came out in all the regalia and arms he was issued with and someone commented that he thought he had seen Speed Gordon and the name stuck.
WX8689	MacMASTER	Hector Cecil Stanley	Jock or Scotty	Played the bagpipes by order of Tom Bunning when marching out and in, plus doing the march, but often gave the excuse (in a strong Scottish accent) “I can’t the pipes are buggered.”
WX7675 WX8636 WX5175	MCPHERSON MAGOR MANN	Cyril John Reginald G Eric Horsley	Mac Gus Blue	B.B. Jan 1968 Known as Gus. B.B. V1N1
WX1700	MATTHEWS	Frederick Noel	Cowboy	Fairbridge boy.
WX7042	MATTHEWS	Roy	Scotty	Norseman boy.
WX5163 WX8620 WX8621	McDONALD McDONALD McDONALD	Colin Keith Clarence J Keith Kitchener	Black Mac CJ KK	B.B. 1950 J.G. brother to KK J.G. brother to CJ
WX9145	McGHEE	Alfred Joseph	Tubby	In later life lived at the Savoy Hotel in Perth along with good friend Billy Castles.
WX8834 WX9826 WX13338 WX6173	MCNULTY MILLAR MILLER MORRIS	Wilfred Noel Hubert J Reginald J Owen	Mac Dusty Windy Romeo	B.B. Jul 1966 B.B.1952 B.B. 1950 J.G. John Gilmour’s 23^rd B day present was to abscond from Changi with John to retrieve 23 coconuts. Because he was one for the girls.
WX15746	MORRISON	Arthur Edward	Snow White	Because he was aboriginal.
WX15751 WX12599	MORRISSEY Murdoch	Albert E Arthur Reginald	Bert Squeaker	Known as Bert. B.B. V1N1
WX15457	NASH	Samuel Edward	Lantern Jaw	Because he had a prominent lower jaw.
WX9256 WX5220 WX9407 WX7981 WX7724 WX5123 WX9263 WX7626	NEVILE NEILSON NORTHEY O’MEARA PARKES PASS POPHAM PITTS	George E Harold F Gerard Joseph P Albert S John S Edward C Albert Leslie	Father Tiger Jock Brum Major also Buff Kyber Ted Slim	B.B. 1950 B.B. 1952 B.B. Oct 1965 B.B. 1951 B.B. Oct 1967 B.B. July 1969 B.B. V1N1 Because he was tall and skinny.
WX14836 WX7331 WX10351	RAMSBOTTOM ROBERTSON ROBINSON	Jack Kenneth Claude W John	Dag Arse, Sheeps Bum Spider Bulla	Disliked his nicknames changed surname to ‘Lane’ post war B.B. Apr 1968
WX9005 WX15893	ROGERS ROOTS	Eric R Stephen Edgar	Buck Ted	B.B. 1967 Family had a general transport business in Albany.
WX8734	RYAN	Cornelius	Con	Known as Con.
WX3454 WX8777	SAGGERS SANDERSON	Albert E John William	Granny Jack	J.G. Known as Jack. A commercial traveller for Sandovers from Wiluna to Esperance. Friend of Ron Badock from Kalgoorlie and Norseman.
WX8809	SANDILANDS	Richard Henry	Dick	Known as Dick.
WX9045	SAW	Harold Edward	Tony	Known as Tony.
WX12202 WX7532	SCALA SEMPLE	Mervyn S Robin Roy	Mick Bluey	Known as Mick. B.B. 1953
WX5007	SCHURMANN / SHERMAN	John Henry		Known as Jack. Second tallest man in the battalion; broad shoulders and good physique.
WX8141 WX7576 WX16952 WX6681 WX6441	SIMPKIN SIMMONDS SIMMONDS SKELTON SMITH	Ronald H Norman E Roy Albert John Bartley Alexander Julian	Popeye Bushy Top Toona Yocker Whispering	B.B. Apr 1966 B.B. Jul 1967 B.B. 1967 RB. B.B. 1952 Known as Johnny. Nickname was because he had a half-whisper voice; spent a night in a cave in White Gum Valley after a session at the pub and got an infection that affected his voice.
WX8711	SMITH	Thomas Ernest		Known as Jerry, brother of Blucher.
WX8736	SMITH	Robert Leighton	Blucher (from pre-war)	Died in action at Mandai breaking his promise to Ron Badock’s mother to look after him and bring him safely home. Good friend from Norseman. A big bloke.
WX3453	SMITH-RYAN	Avon Reah	Smash
WX7127	SOLLY	John Frederick		Known as Jack. A good bloke, very steady. Jack’s sister, Dot, was a barmaid at the City then Australia hotels in Perth but couldn’t always give the boys a free drink.
WX9157 WX8180 WX4986	TAPPER TAYLOR TAYLOR	Albert Leslie Edward G John Alexander	Snow Snow Squizzy	B.B. V1N1 B.B. V1N1 Known as Jack.
WX7480 WX10289 WX9226	THOMAS THORNS TYSOE	William L Arthur S Harry	Slim Codgee Sparrow	B.B. 1950 J.G.
WX9385	UNSWORTH	James	Jim	Known as Jim.
WX5021 WX17962 WX7466 WX8776	WAGHORN WALLIN WALSH WALSH	Henry W Edward W Bernard J Leo Patrick	Bluey Ted Bluey Squasher	B.B. Oct 1966 B.B. V1N1 B.B. 1950 Walsh’s in Kalgoorlie were all known as ‘Squasher’.
WX9067 WX9829	WATT WEBB	Eric George Frederick William	Lofty Spider	B.B Oct 1967
WX9553	WEDGE	Charles Newdegate	Mick
WX10563	WHITFIELD	Robert George	Jock or Bob	Known as Bob.
WX8672 WX 7263 WX9394 WX12593 WX10351	WILLIAMS WILLIAMS WILSON WYLLIE ROBINSON	George D Robert E James G Ronald W John	Twisty Mick Bluey Bomber Bulla	B.B. 1965 RB Drew drawing of machine gun on Borehole magazine B.B. Oct 1963 RB judge in Hong Kong post war R.B.
WX8430	SHEEDY	Nigel John	Mad Mick	Known as Jack.