WHENEVER the word 'gremlins' is mentioned in conversations connected with unexpected technical faults or mysterious setbacks, how many realise that the expression was most likely coined by pioneer airmen of the First World War?

The revelation comes from my old chum Kevin Heneghan whose mind stores an incredible wealth of historical information. He was picking up on an earlier topic of superstition, raised by a couple of readers.

"The item reminded me of wartime," he writes, "when superstitions were prevalent among bomber crews. Many carried lucky mascots in the form of cuddly toys or items of clothing donated by girlfriends. Or they might wear a particular pair of socks or a scarf that had survived previous raids."

One pilot and his navigator went on record as kissing the backside of a grubby old toy rabbit before hanging it in the cockpit until the conclusion of their mission.

"Some crews regarded particular aircraft as being luckier than others or preferred to fly an aircraft with a certain letter - maybe C-Charlie or B-Beer." And many crews relieved their bladders communally on the tail-wheel for good luck, before climbing aboard - although this was frowned on as it caused corrosion!

Retired teacher Kevin adds: "Though bomber crews were generally above average intelligence, they had widespread belief in gremlins (probably a form of goblins) responsible for mechanical or electrical faults in the aircraft; or which fouled up the navigation." Some believe that the term originated in the old Royal Flying Corps (forerunner to the RAF) during the 1914-18 world war.

Fascinating

Switching topic to latch on to another previous item aired on this page, Kevin delves into the fascinating history of Lancashire dialect.

"It comes from many sources, including Welsh", he reveals, "and varies from place to place in accent, grammar and vocabulary. Some terms come from particular callings, such as the cotton industry, mining and agriculture.

"Haydock, for example, was originally Hedoc or Hadoc (the latter being the way it is still pronounced by definitive old Yickers to this day) and this was probably the Welsh term for a barley enclosure."

At one time, the high and low spoke much alike. Lord Stanley, later 15th Earl of Derby (educated Rugby and Cambridge) spoke a form of Lancashire dialect. Sir Robert Peel (Harrow and Oxford) a famous Conservative Prime Minister, made no attempt to disguise his Midlands accent, while Frederick Temple, former head of Rugby and later Archbishop of Canterbury, was not laughed at when he said: 'Bies (boys), yer getting rude; this must cease.'

Now, alas, it's all in the past and most folk try to cover their Lanky twang tones by attempting to talk posh - especially when using the telephone!