"Fum Sup"

[Moe RCNR]

Hello All: Here is a bit a puzzle; does anyone know of the term/object "Fum
Sup" as it relates to WWI? No fair Googling the term!!
Moe.

[Mike]

It's a contraction of "Thumbs Up!" ie good luck. There are a number of WW1 good luck charms based around this "Fum Sup" idea, often where it becomes a small comical character pendant charm made from silver. Sometimes these have wooden bodies, so the soldier could also "touch wood" perhaps just before going 'Over the Top'.

[Moe RCNR]

Hello Mike: Your answer was right on. Mine has a wood head with red glass inset eyes and a silver body. The arms are articulated to move with an up and down motion. From what I am told the figure could also be purchased with a glass head. The figure was available with different coloured eyes to match the receipients birth stone colour. The term "thumbs up" was in the public domain and could not be registered as a trade mark, so hence the term "Fum Sup".
Cheers.
Moe.

[BWEF]

I believe that the French Army also had a lucky charm called a "Rin Tin Tin", which is where the dog got its name.

The original "Rin Tin Tin" was a German war dog captured by a Doughboy, and taken to America after the Armistice.

Until now I had never heard of a "Fums Up" charm, but here is a photo of one:

http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/ww1lit/gwa/...ISOBOX=1&REC=3

[wright241]

Originally Posted by Moe RCNR

Hello All: Here is a bit a puzzle; does anyone know of the term/object "Fum
Sup" as it relates to WWI? No fair Googling the term!!
Moe.

My grandfather from Peckham in South London tended to substitute (as did a lot of 'cockneys') an 'f' for 'th' in his everyday speech - but only for certain words e.g. fanks and fums. My granny - better educated than he was - was always pulling him up when he did this in front of me. Whether it was a speech impediment of some sort or not I never had the affront to say anything, but when I used it, I got a clip around the ear - from my granny.
Takes all sorts....