Comments on: William Anthony, Last Of the Charlies

By: Jonathon Greeen

Jonathon Greeen — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 18:37:49 +0000

for Geraldine Beskin. I was at primary school in Lincoln at same time. We too used ‘Charlie’s dead’ in the same circumstances. I didn’t know why then, I haven’t found out since. First e.g. in my own dictionary is in an American reference work of 1942. Plot thickens.

By: Geraldine Beskin

Geraldine Beskin — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 10:50:22 +0000

The white of the apron would also have reflected the light from the lantern. The status of the carrier would have been known then.
When I was at Primary school in Pimlico in the late ’50’s, if a petticoat was visible beneath the hem of a skirt, the cry went up of ‘Charlie’s dead’. I have no idea why.

By: Jonathon Greeen

Jonathon Greeen — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 10:34:30 +0000

‘Charley’ as a derogatory term for a foolish person has survived into modern times’
Up to a point, Lord Copper. Charlie as a fool (esp. as ‘a proper charlie’) is first found in 1946 and is rhyming slang: ‘charlie hunt’ = ‘cunt’ (as fool rather than vagina). There is a single earlier instance, from Australia in 1914: ‘This same German sausage Charley / As was living down the street’ but in truth, its hard to know if this is ‘our’ charlie or not.

Charlie = watchman also well known for the cruel prank played by upper-class hooligans around 1800: ‘boxing a charlie’: trapping the watchman in his box and turning it over, with the door secured shut by the street beneath

By: caroline bousfield

caroline bousfield — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 10:04:18 +0000

I am curious about his need to wear an apron in the job?

By: Nina Archer

Nina Archer — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 08:42:50 +0000

I loved this – so interesting … thanks GA …