Seriously big rank tabs....
....brings to mind a tale told by a friend who moved to a new locale and was being sussed by the neighbours at little drinks parties (ie is he one of us?)
He is in his late 70s and one old biddy said (cue Lady Bracknell voice) "I hear you were in the Royal Air Force? What rank were you? My father was in the Royal Air Force too".
"I was a Wing Commander", he replied.
"Wing Commander? Wing Commander? Are you sure that's an RAF rank??"
"Certainly is. Are you sure your father was in the RAF?"
"Of course he was (abruptly) but all HIS friends ranks began with "Air" "
Daddy it turned out after some gentle quizzing turned to have taken over from Trenchard way back when.
Funny old world sometimes innit?
The Ancient Mariner