To a lot of Servicemen from WW2, the term “Sally Ann” is an affectionate nickname for the Salvation Army &/or its members. When and how did the term “Sally Ann” come to stand for Salvation Army? The “Sally” part I suspect is a contraction/corruption of Salvation. The “Ann” part has me puzzled. Officials in the local Salvation Army community and those at National level have not been able to provide me with an answer. They seem to be unanimous in their belief that the term came from Servicemen ( in England? ) and that it came back to North America with them. Cecil and the “Teeming Millions” are my last hope.
WAG, but I recall reading about the Salvation Army people bringing coffee and donuts to pilots on the flight line at English airfields during WWII. This was usually done by women as most able bodied men were busy. Hence, “Sally Ann.”
Excuse me. The source I (barely) remember specified that women were the ones bringing the food. Don’t think I made that clear.
Tallyho!
<quote> WAG, but I recall reading about the Salvation Army people bringing coffee and donuts to pilots on the flight line at English airfields during WWII. This was usually done by women as most able bodied men were busy. Hence, “Sally Ann.” </endquote>
The RAF would have been served by NAAFI (Navy/Army/Air Force Institute) canteens or mobile canteens. This was a civilian organization that provided hot tea, sandwiches, etc. for British military bases and camps. 100% female at the “sharp end” (probably some males in the upper management).
Sally Ann is a common nickname in at least some parts of Canada. I have heard it frequently on the East Coast, and occasionaly in central Canada. Don’t know how far back it goes, though. I have a vague impression of it being used pre-WW2 in Newfoundland, but my personal experience doesn’t go back that far.
…and the answer is…CANADIAN.
Read about it here
Thank you samclem for confirming that the term originated during the First World War. “During the First World War (1914-18), the Canadian Salvation Army’s overseas activities were undertaken as part of the much larger effort organized by British Salvationists. The affectionate nickname ‘Sally Ann’ and the familiar Red Shield logo also date from this period.”
I’m still no closer to the reason for the name “Ann” unless it is as galen ubal suggests, just a female name that goes well with “Sally”. Is there no more to it than that?
Olivia Newton-John had a #11 Hit with Long Live Love (unreleased in the USA) and I always wondered what she meant by singing Sally Annie band