Origin of the Nod

[rabby]

JR, speak up!!

I was thinking, having the pleasure of being a Nod and called one fairly regularly, where did the term come from?? Is it anything to do with being refered to as Noddy??

[davo141]

I got told that it is because as NOD's and Lumi-Nods you go around saluting and nodding to everyone and everything in a green beret or any one other than yours.

Lumi-Nods due to there lumi flashes on there uniforms.

Proberly mistaken like but thats what i was told to believe a while ago.

cheers, dave

[Chester]

I think the term Nod is a relatively newish type of thing, say the last thirty years or so. Can't ever recall my Dad referring to Nods as Nods, just 'recruits'

The story I was told was that recruits were called Nods because they can 'Nod off' anywhere given the chance because of the long hours and arduous training.

You only have to walk into the Nods Head in Exeter on a Saturday afternoon for evidence of that

[Sticky Blue]

Chester... I think you get the prize!

Before the Nod nods, he gets a severe case of Nod eye... where the eyes beging to get very heavy and the nod has a glassed look over their face and eyes. An instructor will notice Nod eye setting in and arrange some anti nod eye pills... a quick lap of the parade or there and back tends to work. I found sitting with a sharp pencil under my chin worked wonders... Nod, STAB, Ouch and it was wide awake for the rest of the period.

[JR]

Nods a new fangled term for recruits,some of the 'old and bold' can only refer to recruits as 'Ants' the 'Ant' when on the March would devour anything in his path,salute anything that moved (that includes the Adj's dog) polish anything static,and worship a 3badge Marine (yep that old b'stard in the corner bed the sea daddy of all recruits the spinner of Dits,Ants,Nods whatever, we all started at the bottom (no pun intended) some managed to get to the top table? some remained to go from square number to square number and some fell by the wayside only to be picked up and brushed down given a pat on the head and told to Soldier on.And I would do it all over again?.Aye JR

[Artist]

I always assumed the term NOD came from the Cap comforter when not worn properly. (the thing won by 2nd world war Commandos on there heads) If the cap comforter came adrift it used to "Nod" about. I.E. it used to flap in the breeze or when you ran. I will more than likely be shot down in flames but, that is what I was told anyway.

Artist

[always go commando]

I thought it had something to do the the Ninistry Of Defence.

[Shoulderholster]

I'm with Steve on this one,the only difference being I thought it was due to the cap comforter looking like Noddy's (the toy town character) hat when it flapped about on your head.
SH

[Black Rat]

Probably because you nod with agreement everything that is said and done to you by the training team!

[Pilgrim Norway]

I'll go with the cap comforter too - passes well into 'my' recruit time ('56) -
and Noddy was very popular on TV then too - the resemblance was amazing - large gawky lads lunging around dartmoor in soaking wet denims, denison smocks and some handsomely arranged cap comforters
on some very disfigured and disarranged heads....

I have to admit that I bought a new one last week - canny neck warmers
as well as being good to pull up over the ears in the short, sharp weather.
They seem to be made in an extra long variety now - too long for a good
fold into the cap comforter of old.... still - it scares the sheep.

As an all round piece of clothing it's worth it's weight -
Nod - nod

[Sticky Blue]

A severe case of Nod Eye!!!!

[Artist]

Awww! Bet his neck was stiff when he woke up.

How to scare a Nod. Be nice to him!

Once got an hours extra drill from the First drill when I suggested to two nods "try marching in step lads, it helps"

"NUMBER 26! COME HERE NOW!"

What an ear pounding I got outside the old NAAFI complex. Was duty Student every other day after that.

Artist

[El Prez]

Stix, you would reckon he could have cleaned himself up on that nice blue curtain prior to nodding off, standards!

[mercury]

Way back when I was detached to a training camp in deepest darkest Northumberland I remember the instructors referring to the junior leader recruits as "joes"

[Cronkilla]

Another theory presented in duncan falconers book(brilliant i might add) is the way they nod when replying to orders when stood too at the top of there voice.