What's a powder monkey?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (340637)
Rockingham, Australia
March 20, 2023 8:46pm CST
The photo shows another of the interesting items in the main street of Boddington, Western Australia but it doesn’t relate to the rest of the story.
I wrote about a friend being a powder monkey so then of course I needed to research ‘powder monkey’ a bit more. This was a term first given to boys or young teens, usually 12 to 14, who needed to be short and speedy, although some women and older men also worked in this role. Their task was to ferry gunpowder from ships’ holds to wherever it was needed.
Powder monkeys were often recruited from poorer working classes. The boys were provided with clothes, bedding and a rudimentary education.
The term was first used in the 17th century but can now signify a skilled technician or engineer who engages in blasting work, such as mining or demolition. They may also be called a blaster
17 people like this
16 responses
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@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
21 Mar 23
Powder monkey is such a better term than blaster.
3 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (46989)
• India
21 Mar 23
That's an interesting concept!
The creation shown above is unique too.
I wonder what all is it made up of?
Was Powder monkey a term used in Australia only or other countries as well?
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@ptrikha_2 (46989)
• India
22 Mar 23
@JudyEv
Well so here comes another colonial legacy !!
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (181104)
• United States
21 Mar 23
I may or may not have heard that term before. It isn't used a lot at least here..Powder keg is of course a lot more common. Neat statute!
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (90028)
• Arvada, Colorado
21 Mar 23
Yes those boys sound like the chimney sweep requirements.
I love that statue thing there it is really lovely
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@RebeccasFarm (90028)
• Arvada, Colorado
22 Mar 23
@JudyEv They did and yes they do
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137269)
• United States
21 Mar 23
Oh, that's an unfortunate sculpture... I really hope the city didn't pay anything for that one.
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137269)
• United States
22 Mar 23
@JudyEv I feel like someone else might have done a better job building it. I felt sorry for the sculpture. 
I feel like someone else might have done a better job building it. I felt sorry for the sculpture. 1 person likes this
@Beestring (14582)
• Hong Kong
21 Mar 23
Was the horse in the photo made of scrapped materials?
This is the time I heard of Powder Monkey. Learned something new.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Mar 23
Very interesting term, but aptly fitting given the task. I had heard of this expression before.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (179565)
• United States
15 Apr 23
Interesting. My husband worked for Morton Salt for over 25 years. I remember when we lived on the lake, the house would shake when they set off the charges while mining.
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@JudyEv (340637)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Apr 23
@LindaOHio The first few times it happened to us was scary too.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (179565)
• United States
15 Apr 23
@JudyEv The first time I didn't know what was happening. An earthquake perhaps? lol
1 person likes this
