When I left regular service my letter said I could: ‘retain my rank’. I subsequently had two commissions running at the same time and hence I had (even if tenuously) three ranks I could use if I so wished.
I used the two ‘active’ ranks very carefully to ensure there was no confusion and I never played the former higher regular service rank and so never embarrassed my various bosses or tried to push or take liberties with my past status.
There was one mildly amusing occasion at a formal dinner where I got to my place at table (not the top and below the Salt) and discovered the local comedian had put out ten place cards around my position, all with different ranks – everybody had a good laugh and the card I remember most, styled me as a Vice Admiral in the Swiss Navy.
Twelve months ago, as I hit 76, I decided it was somebody else’s turn and packed it all in. The strange thing is, I now get more mail/emails using my former regular service rank than at any time previous – very strange!!!
Old Duffer