Who was Tommy Atkins?

Question

possibly arising from Rudyard Kipling or other WW1 poem

Answer 1

O, we take him from the city or the plough,
Ta-ran-ta-ra
And we drill him, and we dress him up so neat,
Ta-ran-ta-ra
We teach him to uphold his manly brow,
Ta-ran-ta-ra
And how to walk, and where to put his feet.
Ta-ran-ta-ran-ta-ra
It doesn't matter who he was before,
Ta-ran-ta-ra
Or what his parents favor'd for his name;
Ta-ran-ta-ra
Once he's pocketed the shilling,
And a uniform he's filling,
We'll call him Tommy Atkins, all the same.
O!
Tommy, Tommy Atkins,
You're a "good un," heart and hand;
You're a credit to your calling,
And to all your native land;
May your luck be never failing,
May your love be ever true!
God bless you, Tommy Atkins,
Here's your Country's love to you!

In time of peace he hears the bugle call
Ta-ran-ta-ra
And in Barracks, from "Revally" to "Lights Out!"
Ta-ran-ta-ra
If "Sentry go" and "Pipeclay" ever pall,
Ta-ran-ta-ra
There's always plenty more of work about.
Ta-ran-ta-ran-ta-ra
As happy as a school boy, and as gay;
Then back he goes to duty,
All for Country, Home and Beauty
And the noble sum of half a crown a day.
O!
Tommy, Tommy Atkins,
You're a good un, heart and hand;
You're a credit to your calling,
And to all your native land;
May your luck be never failing,
May your love be ever true!
God bless you, Tommy Atkins,
Here's your Country's love to you!

Answer 2

Tommy is a term for a common soldier in the British Army that is particularly associated with World War I. German soldiers would call out to Tommy across no man's land if they wish to speak to a British soldier. The French and Commonwealth troops would also call British soldiers "Tommies" in recent times,the term Tommy Atkins has been used less frequently, but the name Tom is occasionally still heard,especially with regard to the Paratroopers.

Answer 3

He was a soldier in the 1st world war and since then the name has been used generically to refer to the soldiers in the trenches.

Answer 4

Never heard of him.

Answer 5

try this link