From: Peter Sinclair (Peter@LIMEDENE.DEMON.CO.UK)
Date: Fri Apr 16 1999 - 08:15:34 PDT
Hi Arthur, Thank you very much for your observations. I served from 1940 to 1946, partially in India. I knew the song you mentioned very well indeed but it is only now that I wondered about the word "Blighty" Regards-Peter] On Fri, 16 Apr 1999 09:21:08 +0100, you wrote: >On Fri 16 Apr, Peter Sinclair wrote: >> I wonder whether anyone can identify the origin of the word "Blighty" >> as used by the men/women in the British Forces during WWII when >> referring to "home" in the UK. >> >> Regards-Peter S >> >Hi Peter, > >According to "Brewers Dictionary, Blighty is a colloquial name for England >used by soldiers serving abroad in WW1 but originating among those who had >served in India some years before. > >It originates in an Urdu word meaning foreign land. > >There were three popular songs of which "Take me back to dear old Blighty is >most well known. > >If was further extended to wounds which required the injured soldier to be >repatriated to England > > -- Arthur@arthurpay.demon.co.uk