Re the carrying on of rank, I understood that senior officers could continue to use their rank as a title. So Sqdn Ldr and equivalent. - Thing
I'm sure that we've been here before but, for the avoidance of doubt, the link
http://www.debretts.com/forms-addres...ormer-officers shows that the ranks which may be used on retirement are actually:
Royal Navy - Lieutenant Commander
Army - Captain**
RAF - Squadron Leader
** Curiously enough since it is one rank lower than the rank indicated for the other two Services, but would cover both Thing's RLC man - and Mark Phillips!
That said, I know very few officers who either use, or insist on the use of, their rank - many Admirals and Air Marshals included....
Jack