A salutary lesson indeed, SASless, and thanks for bringing it to our attention.
I doubt whether the Cadets were ever disrespectful of Mr Crawford. Rather that they showed him normal basic everyday courtesy until they learned of his gallantry - thereafter they showed him the honour and respect which all juniors (or rather, every uniformed military person) should show to such a distinguished veteran.
7gcbc and two-wrister, your comments are rather inappropriate on a thread discussing such an unassuming hero.