Jack,
You are quite right. A salute can be given in many ways.
My all time favourite had to be Trevor Howard in the Cockleshell Heros.
After talking with the CSM (William Hartnell?) he turned away, the CSM drew himself up to attention, 2 - 3, threw up a salute, 2 - 3 and Howard, without turning around, but perfectly synchronised, returned the salute.
I got one of those once. At Catterick I noticed a little movement out of the corner of my eye about 30 yards away, a Blue Tit perhaps. Then a bellowing voice, "Yes SIR, I am saluting
YOU SIR."
I kept a better lookout after that
