Posted by Martin Honor on April 30, 2012 at 00:04:34 user MartinH.
In Reply to: Duffers posted by Andy Clayton on April 27, 2012 at 03:45:56:
I have always thought that “duffer” was from the same root as the Royal Naval slang term “duff” for something that doesn’t work. As the telegram was sent by Commander Walker, whose children would probably be familiar with the less colourful aspects of naval slanguage, this should be considered a possibility.
Note: “Duff” is also naval slang for a pudding (especially suet). E.g. Jam duff or figgy duff.