Why were WILSON'S called 'Tug'?

[Romilly]

Just wondering...

My late father, Evan Douglas Wilson, (1896-1957) was always known as 'Tug'.

I had assumed that this was a nickname for 'Doug', his given name.

However, a friend has told me that WILSON's are always known as 'Tug' in the Navy. (My father was ex-Merchant Navy & then RNR in WW1).

Where does this nickname originate...and why?

Cheers, Romilly.

[Ecneps]

Hi Romilly,

It's a naval expression

According to this website: http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.3838

Derived from the nickname of a former First Sea Lord (1909-11) Admiral of the Fleet Sir Arthur Kynvet Wilson, also awarded the VC when fighting with the Naval Brigade at the Battle of El Teb in 1884 in the Sudan during the Mahdi rebellion. Admiral Wilson's nickname reputedly comes from an incident when he repeatedly ordered a battleship to try and come alongside and in exasperation offered her Captain a tug to assist.


Barbara 

[Romilly]

Many Thanks for the explanation Barbara.

I've always wondered why...as there didn't seem an obvious reason!!

Romilly.

[Ecneps]

I like to know the stories behind things too, we often just use expressions without realising how far back the origins sometimes go.

 

[Gadget]

That's really interesting, Barbara. Thank you 

Romilly and I share this ancestral  surname and I'd not heard of that before.


Gadget

[Ecneps]

Well I vaguely knew the answer but I admit to having to search for a reasonable way to put it 

[PollyAnnasH]

Thank you for this information. I have recently discovered that my grandmother's father was nicknamed Tug. She was born illegitimate in 1923. All she has of her father is a photo of a serviceman. Due to her family keeping secrets and the truth hidden. That was until we recently discovered endearing correspondence between her mother and birth father, signed Tug. Unbeknown to her  her mother gave her Wilson as a middle name, after her birth father. This has allowed us to make the connection. I'm new to this but how can I find out his Christian name when all I know is he was Tug Wilson and served in Vorie, Germany in 1922 ? I'd love for my mum to discover her ancestry on her Grandfather's side. Thanks in advance.

[Romilly]

Hi PollyAnnasH, - and welcome to RootsChat!

My first thought is that if you are able to post the photo of the Serviceman on here, - someone will be able to advise you on the uniform; which will make him easier to pin down... I would imagine that he was Navy? (Tug was a Naval nickname for Wilsons).

Romilly.

[youngtug]

Not necessarily navy, it is used for Wilson's in many occupations and situations