I remember visiting Lossiemouth in the late 50s and being puzzled by some of the antics of the 'dark blue' inhabitants (they were known as 'fish heads' in those days). The sailors moved around the Station pretending they were on a ship. When they walked past the flagpole they 'saluted the quarterdeck' and when they wanted to go down town to Forres they had to wait at the guard room for a 'liberty boat'.
There was a story, probably apocryphal, of a bunch of visiting RAF types who, tired of waiting at the guardroom for the 'liberty boat' (aka, a truck) formed themselves into a squad then marched backwards out of the main gate doing rowing motions.
I suppose these Navy rituals had a a purpose, but it all seemed rather absurd to us.