Knife and fork "The fork always goes in the left hand and the knife in the right. Holding either like a pen is unacceptable, as are stabbing techniques. The knife and fork should remain in the bottom third of the plate and never be laid down in the top half."
I've always thought there is a certain element of etiquette that is good practice and intended to prevent offence to others (don't eat soup with your fingers etc), and there is an element that is nothing more than an attempt to highlight those with the 'correct' upbringing and those without it, or to impose standards for no reason other than to have them. The last part of the above always struck me as one of those.
I wonder how the Major General eats the roll supplied with his soup?