Tommy French

This talk will cover a multitude of experiences: how British soldiers managed the experience of being in a land where they either knew no French, or found the French they knew was useless; learning French, and interpreters; creating lingua français; the stand out phrases – napoo, sanfairyann, compree, finee, toot sweet, apray le gar. Class and variation; anglicised place names, and what they tell us about how soldiers picked up language; conversing with the locals, especially young women.

Julian will also recount how the French adopted of Tommies' French and how "Tommy French" was taken up on the Home Front in entertainment.

Members and non-members of The Western Front Association are equally welcome. Any new visitors are guaranteed a friendly atmosphere and a warm welcome from a group of like-minded enthusiasts.