For decades, service personnel have had their names changed the moment they’ve arrived at their first military unit.

Usually by a smart-alec superior.

Of course the fresh-faced recruit is too junior to protest, if s/he even understands the black humour behind their re-christening.

The nickname may stick with them for the rest of their career, and will be used all the more if it particularly upsets the poor soldier / sailor / airman lumbered with it.

Find out the reasons unsuspecting servicemen and women have had their perfectly ordinary name altered as they’re being issued with their first items of uniform.