PBI Posted 26 October , 2006 Share Posted 26 October , 2006 I visited my Local Tattoo Artist Today,and He has a large Selection of WW1 Images Amongst His Art Work,can any of the Forum Members Remember Tattoos that their G.Fathers or Fathers had ?.eg Names,Scenes.?,and the History behind the Tattoos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrieduncan Posted 26 October , 2006 Share Posted 26 October , 2006 My G-Grandfather (avatar) had a snake, wound round a dagger that was stabbed through a skull - looked quite good even when he was 90, bet it was the bomb when he got it done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mruk Posted 27 October , 2006 Share Posted 27 October , 2006 Hello PBI, My grandfather had 'Lady Astor' and 'Buffalo Bill' tattooed on his arms. My father has the usual scrolls and hearts-'Mam and Dad' and 'True Love Shirley' [They call my mam Florence], and my uncle had a dagger and snake with 'Egypt', and a 'large cross and sun', along with an assortment of others from the time he spent 'away' as a young boy--if you get my drift. It seems that most schools were 'approved' in the late-forties and early-fifties. That's what my Uncle Don used to say anyway. Cheers, Dave PS: Something you don't often see now on most blokes under forty is the 'Borstal Glove', which is just the one hand covered in an array of home-made tattooes. Not surprising really, the borstal system changed in 1982, and whether you like them or not, each tattoo usually says something, and speaks volumes--even if it's just a silly fashion fad at some particular point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 27 October , 2006 Share Posted 27 October , 2006 When I was a prison officer we had a prisoner who had Death before Dishonour tattooed on his forearm...well he thought he did...what it actually said was Deeth before Disnonher. PBI is there any way you can get pics of the WW1 tatts to show us....and can you tell us what you had done and where (on the body). Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PBI Posted 27 October , 2006 Author Share Posted 27 October , 2006 I wil try and get down to the Studio Today and ask if he will let me have some of the Designs he has,and i will see if i can post them,funnily enough a lot of the Drawings are actual copies of WW1 photos,and he has them sent to Him by a Lad in Poland of all Places.I didnt get anything Done yesterday as i am still contemplating what to have Done.My Right Leg is completley sleeved from the Toes up to My Buttock,as i had a Horrendous Bike Smash 25 Years ago,after i came out of Hospital the Scars looked revolting,so my Sisters Boyfriend at the Time was just starting up His first Studio,so he managed over 5 years to cover the scars up for me with a really nice Japanese Water Garden Themed Tattoo,it took a long time to get done and Hurt like hell,but i am pleased with the Result.Have any other Forum members got any Tattos on themselves ?.I was also wondering if it would have been common for Soldiers off duty in France or Belgium to get a permanent reminder of their War Service ????. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 27 October , 2006 Share Posted 27 October , 2006 just the usual panther fighting a snake on left bicep. and black cat right hip...which might be significant to someone else on here. Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyspiller Posted 27 October , 2006 Share Posted 27 October , 2006 Mick Re #4 All Curiously, was going through family's naval records yesterday. ADM188 notes marks etc. Some noted were:- Hope & Charity on right forearm, Faith, Hope & Charity on left. Butterflies on both hands Flower on right wrist. Rgds Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J T Gray Posted 27 October , 2006 Share Posted 27 October , 2006 Untattooed, and no plans to change! However if you are interested in what people wore, try the Navy service records. I don't have it to hand but the submariner in my sig is recorded under "identifying marks" as having a most impressive collection - the usual naked women, some rings on his fingers and IIRC a bird on each foot. I don't know whether army service records would document similar, as I've never found one for a family member. Did you know that "tattooee" is the only word in the English language with three consecutive pairs of letters? And you may be surprised to hear that apparently Old Etonian ex-Grenadier Guards officer Brian Johnston (of legover fame) had a couple as well, from his army days. So they turn up in the oddest of places! Adrian EDIT: Cross-post with Andy - exactly the same idea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mruk Posted 27 October , 2006 Share Posted 27 October , 2006 The National Maritime Museum opened an exhibition a couple of years ago on tattoos in the RN from the 18th C. called 'Skin Deep'. You won't find mine on there, I had mine done a few years after I left. www.nmm.ac.uk Cheers, Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ypres1418 Posted 27 October , 2006 Share Posted 27 October , 2006 I am having one done for christmas, now shall i let you wonder as to what and where or should i tell you now? No think i'll leave it for a day or too then tell you....................... Mandy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian turner Posted 27 October , 2006 Share Posted 27 October , 2006 Hello PBI, My grandfather had 'Lady Astor' and 'Buffalo Bill' tattooed on his arms. My grandfather also had a 'Buffalo Bill' tattoo on his forearm. He said that the colours had faded over the years. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KevinEndon Posted 27 October , 2006 Share Posted 27 October , 2006 I am led to believe that during WW1 tattoos were common place because the ink was impregnated with some form of medicine for immunisation. I will check this story out again to make sure but the soldiers daughter is convinced her dad got the tattoo for that reason and she gave a special word for the whole thing. Back in a bit with my findings. K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyspiller Posted 27 October , 2006 Share Posted 27 October , 2006 Adrian wasn't tattooee a planet in Star Wars? Rgds Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PBI Posted 27 October , 2006 Author Share Posted 27 October , 2006 I was waiting for this one...the Planet was Tattooine. .Have any of you been watching Ross Kemp on Gangs ?,some pretty amazing Tattoos on Display by various Gangsters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaisersoffensive Posted 27 October , 2006 Share Posted 27 October , 2006 I am having one done for christmas, now shall i let you wonder as to what and where or should i tell you now? No think i'll leave it for a day or too then tell you....................... Mandy Hello I was considering having just a large capital B on each cheek of my buttocks. Absolutely adored Bridget Bardot as an adolescent. Thought that I would see what the effect was like before I committed myself to the hands ,or rather needle of the tatooist. Attempted the artwork with a felt tip pen. When I looked at the result in the mirror I was amazed to see that it had spelt my christian name. No offence intended, Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrieduncan Posted 27 October , 2006 Share Posted 27 October , 2006 I've noticed that alot of our chaps who were out in India during the latter half of the 19th C and the early 20th C seem to have some amazingly intricate tattoo's; especially over the chest and upperarms etc. I've got two smallish tatoo's on my back, not planning on anymore just yet. Oh and Bob, thanks for that mental picture, just what I wanted before lunch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staffsreg Posted 27 October , 2006 Share Posted 27 October , 2006 i have tattoos on my forearms, with the badges of North Staffs Regiment, and on other arm Royal Artillery in full colour. Ihad them done locally and he did rather a good job of them. they measure: RA= 12cms. x 10cms NS= 7cms x 7 cms approx. I love them! I therefore have the Great War with me wherever i go! I especially had to cover them up though when i recently went to Killarney in Ireland...you never know! Cheers Chums, Ivan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan jones Posted 27 October , 2006 Share Posted 27 October , 2006 Hello, On my grandfathers discharge certificate from 59th Siege Battery RGA it says Beautifully tattoed all over, chest,arms,forearms,wrists. I always wondered if he got them done on Western Front or prior to enlistment. Regards Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 27 October , 2006 Share Posted 27 October , 2006 Hello I was considering having just a large capital B on each cheek of my buttocks. You at the age where you need to label your buttocks? Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PBI Posted 27 October , 2006 Author Share Posted 27 October , 2006 Seems to be a re run of the W on each Buttock..spelling wow...getting away from the jokes,i wonder if any of the Maori Soldiers had the Full Face Tattoos (Moko) when they enlisted and would these Markings have been noted on their attestation papers,and lastly are there any pictures of said Maori Soldiers in Europe with their Tattoos ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaisersoffensive Posted 27 October , 2006 Share Posted 27 October , 2006 You at the age where you need to label your buttocks? Mick Have you ever tried writing RB and LB on your buttocks whilst looking in the mirror? Aint easy!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kookaburra Posted 27 October , 2006 Share Posted 27 October , 2006 i wonder if any of the Maori Soldiers had the Full Face Tattoos (Moko) when they enlisted and would these Markings have been noted on their attestation papers From the NZ Service Records I've seen all tattoos and scars etc are noted. I don't know whether any of the Maori in WW1 had full face tattoos. I'd never seen a Maori with a full face tattoo until recent times, say the last 10 - 15 years. Cheers, Kooky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lionboxer Posted 27 October , 2006 Share Posted 27 October , 2006 My Gt uncle (RMLI) had a man tatooed on his left forearm and a star, woman and sailor on his right forearm but what the significance is I have no idea. Whilst I was on attachment to the Black Watch in NI '74 there was a Jock who had a tatoo on the underside of his right forearm which was rather offensive when giving a salute. I can't remember the exact wording but suffice to say he was prohibited from saluting an officer while in shirtsleeve order. The rest of the Jocks and us Sassanacs (?) thought it highly amusing and rather rebellious. Lionboxer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walrus Posted 28 October , 2006 Share Posted 28 October , 2006 I seem to recall reading that, as late as the 1940s*, "The Well at Cornpore" (Indian Mutiny reference) was still a popular tattoo for soldiers who had served in India. Tom *It may have been in G.M.Fraser's autobiography, but I can't recall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomcatPC Posted 25 January , 2012 Share Posted 25 January , 2012 Hello I found this old topic and decided to chime in. From what I have heard by several family members who actually met him, my Grand Dad who Served in the U.S. Navy had an Anchor tattoo on one of his upper arms. I think he had his initials on it as well, not certain if it had "USN" or not? I never met him, as I was born in 1970 and he had died in the 1960s. I have a photo of his uniform posted on this forum though. Now, during my hitch with the U.S. Navy I decided to remain completely "blank", as I am still to this day. Thanks Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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