Posted on Apr 15, 2014
Where did the term Dog Robber come from and what does it apply to?
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There has long been a term in the military that applies to a certain individual. I am wondering if anyone can tell me where this term came from and who does it apply to in the military. Good luck, I know there are many old time military veterans and retirees who are familiar with this term. If you are the person that this applies to please refrain from answering or give disinformation on the topic. There are multiple answers to this question.
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
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CPL Brown,
A dog robber is someone who steals leftover food, and it came to be synonymous with a General's aide because it's said that there are very few things an aide won't do to meet the General's needs.
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SPC Charles Brown
To expand on this a little more, the story is that the flag officer or generals aide-de-camp will do whatever is necessary to get these officers whatever they need to include robbing a dog. Hence the term "dog robber" in the US Military. This is another possible answer, there are still more out there.
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Dog robber refers to an aide-de-camp for a general or flag officer. I have no idea where it came from or why, but I do belong to the club after serving as an aide for 2 years. I hope somebody has the total story, it will be interesting indeed!
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SPC Charles Brown
That is the one I am most familiar with, and probably the one most service members are familiar with. I would elaborate further on the answer as it would give away the rest of the answer.
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Here's your answer:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman_%28military%29#United_States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman_%28military%29#United_States
A batman (or batwoman) is a soldier or airman assigned to a commissioned officer as a personal servant. Before the advent of motorized transport, an officer's batman was also in charge of the officer'...
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SPC Charles Brown
This is one of many possible answers. You came up with the British Military version of the term. Good work, and thanks for responding.
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TSgt Scott Hurley
Your welcome. Did you read under United States or did you just read the British version. Because the US Army used the term "Dog Robber" only.
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SPC Charles Brown
I actually read under both, since there are a total of 3 different answers that I have found so far.
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TSgt Scott Hurley
That's good to know. I know that wikipedia is not 100% accurate, but it does give out some good info.
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This is why Google sucks. A "dog-robber" comes from the derogatory title of individual that would work in old grand estate homes and clean up after the dogs that defecated in the home. Obviously the military brass picked up this term to describe the lowest ranking individual that had direct contact with a high level superior.
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I have an answer which makes sense to me, but I am not at all sure that it is historically correct. Keep in mind that the aides-de-camp called dog robbers are generally assigned, I believe, to general officers, and that snuffies, or non-high-ranking enlisted soldiers, were, during some period, referred to as dogfaces, or doggies. Thus, from the POV of a junior or medium-grade officer, a general's aide might be someone who was going to steal some of his men from him for one reason or another.
If this analysis is false, which it may well be, it could probably be easily disproved by showing that "dog robber" precedes "dogface" chronologically, or some similar contradiction.
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If this analysis is false, which it may well be, it could probably be easily disproved by showing that "dog robber" precedes "dogface" chronologically, or some similar contradiction.
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I was an ex Matalot working as an Ambulanceman, my crew mate was an ex Royal Marine and we were transporting a patient who was an ex Admiral. My oppo and I were ribbing each other about our military Service and the Admiral , who was quite poorly, called us a pair of Dog Robbers. Apparently this was a term used in the eighteenth century to describe a pair of scruffy Matalots who would steal the clothes off of a mangy dog to be able to go ashore. Sounds good eh!
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
A gopher, fetch it man like Myself as Master at Arms to COMSPAWARSYSCOM. LOL! Never heard it put that way but I like it.
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