So the question is — is this attitude of deferring to senior officers regardless of their capabilities a trait unique to the RN, or does it prevail in the other services including our own R.A.F.?
This is a civilian take but, as it happens, involves an Admiral.
I was croupier and ran the roulette as part of a fairly wide area charity scheme in north Lincolnshire.
Now one day we were requested to provide a casino at Belchford to raise funds for Lincoln Cathedral. The admiral concerned had hired a large marquee for a wedding and took the opportunity for run this charity event.
The roulette was going well and people were winning and losing although I, as the bank, was definitely winning. Then the admiral hove in to sight, placed a couple of chips on the table and chatted to all and sundry. When I called the winning number and paid out the bets the admiral scooped up 'his' winnings.
As the game progressed it became obvious that the old boy would always win regardless of where he had placed his bets. In the end I started to pay out twice, to the admiral and to the winner!