“Why was Army punishment known as jankers’?

Answer 1

Jankers

British Army term.

I have outlined just some uses of therm term, my sense is that most answers here are correct, I strongly suspect the term is from India and did discover some leads. We can date it to after the Boer War and at the begining if WWI (1914), it is British and used not often by Yanks. It is not in The Oxford History of The British Army but that is what I call an "officer school boy" text.
Any book that leaves out the details of the "Battle of New Orleans, and General Jackson is?

The exact meaning changed by year and branch of service.

In 1918 “confinement” to quarters, Confined to barracks,

a week's orderly officer — the officer equivalent of jankers

This the soldier calls "doing jankers," and the bugle or trumpet call which orders him out on the defaulters' parade is known as "Paddy Doyle"— 1914

Army, and in the latrines, and peeling potatoes on jankers

Jankers. Confinement in barracks or prison

Detention, Spud-Hole, Jankers, Reps, Royal Warrant

A speck on your barrel could earn you a day's 'jankers' (menial duties in off-hours).

Some say the origin of the word is from “jangle” as in chains? Cassell’s Dictionary

A “Janker Wallah” is a Hindu word that refers to a fellow who does menial labor, the two were tied together in India.

The term almost died but not for a BBC TV show about WWII in India.

Whatever, common in WWI, during the Boer War, the term did exist! But in their language, not the Dutch it is a word.

Jankers: a minor punishment, fatigues. Usually performed whilst confined to barracks (CB). Origin unknown, but may be related to jangle, which had an archaic sense of 'to grumble'.

I did spend some time with the Aussies in Vietnam, but they were saying "wankers" I recall? Never called me that I was Doc,
my mates from the 6 RAR never called me anything but.

Answer 2

I read somewhere a long time ago that the term "Jankers" derived form "janglers" which was an Army nickname for chains sometimes worn by Army prisoners.

Answer 3

i was in the army and have neva heard of it. we have a punishment refered to as ROPS restiction of privilidges, but that doesnt help does it lol

Answer 4

The bombers were called Junkers. Pronounced Yunkers.

Answer 5

Was it a slang term which orginated from those enemy planes ? I think there were enemy planes called "jankers", or something close to that - but I might be wrong.

Good question - I'll monitor to see if there is a good answer.

Answer 6

Part of a general rhyming slang term

I leave you to work it out!!

Answer 7

Try this link:http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/32/a8794632.shtml

Answer 8

I dunno.