Could you give us an example of technically qualified ground crew being used as mess stewards, because, with almost 3 decades of service well behind me, including stints on mess committees, I cannot think of one. As someone who joined in the mid sixties and 'lived in' on six stations in the UK and abroad I cannot once remember having a service batman; locally employed civilians, glad of a job, yes but never a serviceman. Please lighten our darkness.
Tailored Air Group groundcrew employed as Mess Hands. HMS Ocean 2002.