Page 5 - eMuse Vol.9 No.09

Sausage: German mortar New South Wales, Queens-
bomb. “..we pick out at once land and the Northern Terri-
the faint plop! of the mortar tory, although it is known in
that sends off a sausage, or other states .
the muffled noise when a The term ‘schooner’ was in
grenade is fired” .
common use in Sydney by
the early 1930s when it was
applied to an unstamped and
unofficial glass of variable ca-
pacity, but containing some-
Hand saw
what less than a pint. The
origin of the term, although
unknown, is suggested by the
comments of a magistrate in
a 1931 Sydney court case
Crosscut saw
In accordance with military Sand groper: A West Australian . Saw: A tool or device for cut-
custom, a riderless charger ting, typically a thin blade of
follows his master’s coffin. SAP: A listening post in no metal with a series of sharp
man’s land, connected at
It is quite probable “Sandy” ninety degrees to the fire teeth .
was the horse in the funeral trench by a narrow com-
procession in Alexandria . munication trench. During
This part of the folklore is an advance, saps were of- Schooner
likely correct. However, leg- ten joined together to make
end has it, that when Gen- the new front line trench. Schooner: A sailing vessel with
eral Bridges was exhumed “Sap” originates from Italian Sawbees two or more masts and fore
and his body returned to “Zappa” meaning a “spade” . and aft rig.
Australia, “Sandy” was the Sapper: A soldier of the Engi- Sawbees: Handshears. A cor-
riderless horse following the ruption of “Sorby” the name Scoot: To hurry; to scuttle.
coffin. Although this belief neer Corp. Equivalent of an of a manufacturer of hand Scorpions in the pocket: See
Infantry Private. Originally,
is popular, Sandy was actu- a digger of saps. See “Rus- shears . “Death Adders in the pocket” .
ally still in Egypt at the time. Sawing Wood: “Bluffing”; bid-
sian Sap” SCOSE: Standing Committee on
“Sandy” did eventually return Sarnt: Sergeant . Seen as a ding one’s time. Spoken English . A standing
to Australia after seeing ser- smarter and more soldierly Sawing wood: Snoring . guide used by ABC for pro-
vice in France, and he is our nunciation.
only war horse documented form of address. However, Scab: One who continues to
“Sarge” was never permit-
to come home . Again legend work during a strike, takes a Scozzer: Unsophisticated person.
and fact are in conflict. ted: “There are only two strikers place, or, refuses to Scran: Food .
bloody types of sarges in this join a union. A blackleg. A
“Sandy” is said to have mob - passarges and sausarg- scoundrel . Scrap : Fight .
peacefully lived out his days es — now move yerself!”
in a paddock in the grounds SAS: (Military) = Special Air Scaley: Representatives of the Screen: The table where the
fleece is cleaned and classed.
of Duntroon’s Royal Military Service . Weights and Measure of-
College (RMC). This was the fice (who check scales and Scroggin: A high energy snack
intention as General Bridges SASR: (Military) = Special Air weights in commercial retail food often used by bush walk-
was the RMC’s founder. Service Regiment. establishments, etc .) ers, etc. Made from mixed
“Sandy’s” long journey Saturday night soldiers: (Brit- School: A club; a clique of gam- fruit (such as raisins, sultan-
home through quarantine ish Military) Members of blers, or others . as), nuts, dried fruits, etc.
and detours ended with his the Territorial Battalions. Disclaimer: In this series in-
arrival in Melbourne two Originally a derisory name, tolerable and racist speak
days after the signing of the the term was not used much may turn up from time to
Armistice. From there he by those who had witnessed time. Such words are not
was taken to Maribynong the Terriers’ skilful fighting necessarily the editor’s view.
where he lived out his life in and great losses . They are presented merely
peaceful retirement. as facts which sometimes
(This nickname has a lot in show biased attitudes from
As noted, “Sandy” was the common with the Australian
only horse to return home term “Chocko’ — the inexpe- another era.
from World War I. General rienced 39th Battalion who Schooner We should look at our histo-
Bridges is the only Austral- delayed the Japanese ad- ry as it actually was without
ian in that conflict who was vance on the Kokoda Track .) Schooner: A large glass, usu- sanitising it to suit our own
returned home for burial. ally of beer. 425 ml (15 imp sensibilities. This will hope-
Savvy: Common sense; fl oz), or three-quarters of an fully show up racism and
Sandy blight: Ophthalmia 2 an shrewdness. imperial pint pre-metrication. other evils to be the abomi-
eye disease.; an inflamma- Sausage: Barrage balloon . It is the most common size in nation they really are.
tion of the eye.
September 2020 eMuse 5