Ye Ancient Athenian – 1917 Soldier Humour
What did soldiers do when they sailed aboard troopships all around the world in WWI?
Those on the
HMNZT Athenic found a neat way to pass the time. Photographs, cartoons, poetry, letters, jokes, news, and some questionable explanations of nautical terms were all published in the troopship magazine
Ye Ancient Athenian. It was written by the soldiers for the soldiers and shows a side we rarely get to see or appreciate. Troopship magazines were not just limited to the
Athenic; check out what has been digitised and is available to view
online.
For now, we will share some of our favourite tidbits:
1917 – “YE ANCIENT ATHENIAN” – ADVERTISEMENTS
“CAPTAIN CUDDIE does Dainty Dentistry in the Promenade Parlours. Mouldy molars readily removed. Try our special painful method. Misfits extra. Excellent view.”
“LOST, moulting tooth-brush at wash-stand. Number remaining bristles known. Any person retaining same liable prosecution.”
“PERSONAL (by Wireless). John Thomas OO919, order captain to return at once, if not sooner. Canary dead, grandmother cannot be pacified.”
