Standards

[ORAC]

Have changed……

https://twitter.com/militaryhistori/status/1457283386356158470?s=21

[Wensleydale]

Back in the 1970s, an officer who lived in the Mess at Lossiemouth had two suits made by a local tailor - one was orange and the other bright green. One Monday evening (it was compulsory to wear a suit for dining on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays with a sports jacket and trousers permitted on Wednesdays), he arrived in the bar wearing his orange suit. He was immediately counselled by the PMC who ordered him to change. On Tuesday he turned up wearing the green suit and was again reprimanded by the PMC and forbidden to wear the suits again. Wednesday arrived and the said officer was found in the bar wearing the orange jacket and the green trousers. On being scolded by the PMC who reminded him that he was ordered not to wear the suits again, he countered by pointing out that he was not wearing a suit because the jacket and trousers did not match. Of such things, 28 days Orderly Officer are born (although there is not much else to do at Lossiemouth on a winters' evening).

[charliegolf]

A certain 33 Sqn pilot (I will call him Rex Green) had an old number one jacket tailored down to a battledress style (when we were all in the Thunderbird days). He delighted in flashing the brilliant vermillion lining around the squadron, raising eyebrows* as he went!

CG

* A reserved character was Rex, never raising eyebrows otherwise. (Yeah right!)

[MPN11]

Shocking! What next? Female Officers wearing trousers?

[ShyTorque]

A certain RAF navigator of my acquaintance had a suit of canary yellow and one of lime green. Same story as the OPs, but the other end of the U.K.

SAME chap also managed to fall asleep in the suspended ceiling of the Officers Mess bar at RAF Aldergrove. The next morning his presence up there caused the cleaner some consternation!

[lsh]

A certain RAF navigator of my acquaintance had a suit of canary yellow and one of lime green. Same story as the OPs, but the other end of the U.K.

SAME chap also managed to fall asleep in the suspended ceiling of the Officers Mess bar at RAF Aldergrove. The next morning his presence up there caused the cleaner some consternation!

His bear also flew with him.

lsh

[Wensleydale]

A certain RAF navigator of my acquaintance had a suit of canary yellow and one of lime green. Same story as the OPs, but the other end of the U.K.

SAME chap also managed to fall asleep in the suspended ceiling of the Officers Mess bar at RAF Aldergrove. The next morning his presence up there caused the cleaner some consternation!


The officer in Question at Lossie was posted to helicopters - I think Chinooks. No doubt the same person who had kept his wardrobe.

[Jhieminga]

Some options here if anyone feels inspired: https://www.opposuits.com/men/suits.html

An ex-colleague had (actually, probably still has) a bright orange suit to show himself off as a proud Dutch bloke. Raised quite a few eyebrows amongst his UK colleagues. Nowhere near as bad as mustard-coloured socks of course....

[Herod]

I remember one of our instructors many years ago, expressing shock horror . "Cadet X has a steel-grey suit..and a red lining to his No1 jacket". I have a grey suit (not steel-grey) and my black going-to-funerals suit has a red lining to the jacket. In honour of the chap whose funeral I bought the suit for. Not the same man. Does anyone remember having to wear a trilby in civvies, so one could raise it to officers and their ladies? Man, I must be getting old.

[Ninthace]

I have a Tilley hat that I doff to ladies when I am out hiking. Scares the bejazus out of some them. :eek:

[Paying Guest]

Does anyone remember having to wear a trilby in civvies, so one could raise it to officers and their ladies? Man, I must be getting old.

Had a boss who on a previous tour as a sqn cdr at Marham in Victor days had remonstrated with one of his flt cdrs. Said sqn cdr was not certain which was the greater offence: washing his own car on his driveway on the patch or failing to wear a hat while doing so.

[Shackman]

The Nav in question (nice colour in suits) was on my crew on 8 Sqn for a while before I went rotary. He was also my 'co-pilot'/RHS when we took a Chinook up to 8 Sqn for an open day, with an ex 8 Sqn engineer down the back. The Squadron was more than a bit surprised to find an 8 Sqn crew on the 7 Sqn Chinook - but I can't remember what colour suit he wore in the mess that night.
There was only one M.G.

[MPN11]

.... Does anyone remember having to wear a trilby in civvies, so one could raise it to officers and their ladies? Man, I must be getting old.Drummed into us at Dartmouth [one couldn't "Go Ashore" without one.]. Likewise at Feltwell Comprehensive.

Late night IOT rations for the guys from Dirty Dick's caff across the road ... we would head out, with orders in writing, suitably attired. And then join in with 'Dick' in the kitchen, suitably divested of hats and coats, to generate mass frying to take Banjos various back to the Barrack Block. Bow ties optional. It was a great 'levelling' experience, and a valuable lesson in 'looking after your mates'.

[LOMCEVAK]

The Nav in question (nice colour in suits) was on my crew on 8 Sqn for a while before I went rotary. He was also my 'co-pilot'/RHS when we took a Chinook up to 8 Sqn for an open day, with an ex 8 Sqn engineer down the back. The Squadron was more than a bit surprised to find an 8 Sqn crew on the 7 Sqn Chinook - but I can't remember what colour suit he wore in the mess that night.
There was only one M.G.
MFCG was on Victors before he went to 8 Sqn. It was definitely yellow and green suits at Lossie and I thought that it was the station commander and not the PMC with whom he had the discussions. After Chinooks he fulfilled an Ops job on a squadron that I was on at a certain Wiltshire base until he retired. And along the way he married a Wing Commander! A phenomenal character and one of the nicest people I have ever met. I must get in touch again ….

[Bill Macgillivray]

If I remember correctly (no guarantee!), when we arrived at OCTU, Jurby, in mid 50's, we were asked if we possessed suitable civilian headgear, if the answer was no (pretty general!), the next day the Station tailor had a queue outside his "shop" and issued suitable headgear (trilby) to all. In hindsight it was quite a novel and amusing experience! Those were the days (I think!!!).

Bill

[Top West 50]

Our DS at Staff College, an Army Officer, assured us that should we ever see two of his colleagues dressed the same we could be sure that one was an imposter.

[Ninthace]

Our DS at Staff College, an Army Officer, assured us that should we ever see two of his colleagues dressed the same we could be sure that one was an imposter.
When I was DS at Staff College the Army said much the same thing about the RAF.

[langleybaston]

If I remember correctly (no guarantee!), when we arrived at OCTU, Jurby, in mid 50's, we were asked if we possessed suitable civilian headgear, if the answer was no (pretty general!), the next day the Station tailor had a queue outside his "shop" and issued suitable headgear (trilby) to all. In hindsight it was quite a novel and amusing experience! Those were the days (I think!!!).

Bill
The RAF officers at Topcliffe c. 1965 certainly wore Trilbys ... there were several such events where attendance was deemed "recommended".
Fortunately, this civvy owned one: his father had deemed it essential when sonny boy left home.
After many mid-life hatless years, and much hair loss, I now rather like a hat with a brim: three of mine are German, such as Adolf Schicklgruber wore, grey, black and a sort of khaki.

[trim it out]

Isn't there some excitement over standards of dress at Lossie at the moment? Something about sim drivers wandering around unzipped.

[NutLoose]

Upper or lower?

[megan]

Male or female?

[Cornish Jack]

Loss of uniform, as distinct from civilian, hat, was a real problem for me when I 'went civvy'. I've always had a poor memory, so I used to write reminder notes and fit them inside my hat - hence constant reminders. Ground instructing with BA and Virgin was non-uniform thus occasional chaos - such as turning up at Sussex House and our lovely Lxxxx asking why I wasn't at the Heathrow sim !!!:eek:
Crawley to Cranebank was quite speedy !! :=

[BEagle]

Aargh, those wretched hats! We had to wear them at RAFC whilst Flt Cdts. Compulsory in town in Lincoln, Grantham and Sleaford too - but not Newark!

The sight of a number of shaven-headed Junior Entry marching down to the Cadets' garage hangar to brush it out on Saturday morning was...unusual. Pale blue tracksuits....and hats various.

On being commissioned as APOs, we had a mass hat fire on the JMPG!

[Old Bricks]

BEagle. Funnily enough, I was just remembering the banality of marching smartly in blue tracksuit with trilby or similar on the way up to rugby training, and the thrill of trying to make it back to the Junior Mess in darkness whilst risking being hatless. Always failed - the hat-sensing SNCOs could spot a bare head at half a mile, even in fog! I can still remember overhearing a local in Sleaford saying to his mate "Yer, there goes one of them Nit-hats!" Summed it up very succinctly.

[teeteringhead]

There was only one M.G. Remember one time he was nav on a VIP trip in Norn Iron.

VIP was a keen golfer; as the aircraft flew over one of NI's many golf courses he remarked:

VIP: "Apparently down there (pointing) is the best hole in Northern Ireland!"

MG: "I beg to differ Sir.........."

[SLXOwft]

Funny what you remember about headwear, in my case it was a fellow OUT being loudly torn off a strip for wearing his cap in the Senior Gunroom at HMP Dartmouth rather than for not wearing a hat 'ashore'. Following the lecture on dress I expected a reprimand for wearing a suit which was clearly too light a shade of grey, it never happened, I was obviously too conservative in my rule breaking. How going everywhere in dark suits, shiny shoes and very short hair stopped the IRA realising we were in 'government service' I never knew.

As to today's standards - they'll be permitting officers to carry their purchases and males to wear black tie in mixed company next.

[langleybaston]

and brown in town of course

[Sleeve Wing]

Great dits about the good old days of hats, gentlemen. Keep 'em coming.
I remember clearly when doing the Pre-assessment course at Hornchurch in 1955, the only bloke who wore a trilby was the "snoop" !
My "ratter" , when it was raining, was just about accepted. The deerstalker was definitely out.
The sneaky didn't make many friends I recall.........

[Ninthace]

What about suede shoes? On Joint Service tour I had an RN Cdr taking a dim view of mine. I thought they were quite natty with sports jacket and flannels.

[Barksdale Boy]

Not to mention button-down shirts!

[langleybaston]

I still rue my close encounter with the early zip flies.

A mistake nobody ever makes twice, unless tired and emotional.

[Big Pistons Forever]

40 years ago as an officer candidate in the "unified" Canadian Armed Forces we all had to wear the same green uniform. OK, if you were a Professional Pedestrian but not so great for someone like me who had joined Canada's Navy. The uniform was topped off with a particularly hideous tall green peak cap. In an effort to give it a bit of flair I sewed the sides of the top down to give it a pleasing curl and that "old salt" look. All was well until I was pulled up short by the Base Chief. To say he was not best pleased with me would be a considerable understatement, Oh well I guess I hadn't really wanted weekend leave for the nest month......

[MPN11]

In an effort to give it a bit of flair I sewed the sides of the top down to give it a pleasing curl and that "old salt" look. All was well until I was pulled up short by the Base Chief. To say he was not best pleased with me would be a considerable understatement, Oh well I guess I hadn't really wanted weekend leave for the nest month.....

Pah ... I was told to get rid of my 30-yo SD Cap by a 3*. Or was he a 4*? Whichever, I seemed to forget due to emotional stress.

[NRU74]

I still rue my close encounter with the early zip flies.
Oddly enough I recently bought in a sale a pair of Hacketts finest cords at about quarter price. I think it's the first pair of button flies I've owned since I was an Officer Cadet in hairy mary's in '61/62 !

[MPN11]

Oddly enough I recently bought in a sale a pair of Hacketts finest cords at about quarter price. I think it's the first pair of button flies I've owned since I was an Officer Cadet in hairy mary's in '61/62 !
Ah, buttons! That dates us! In the TV Room at OCTU, remembering that WRAF battledress tops fasten on the other side … nice lass, got married to a Pilot (of course) within a few months of her first posting!

[ShyTorque]

On arrival at a new (fixed wing) posting I was summoned to the Station Commander's office, for a welcome chat. As it was a formal invitation I wore my SD hat (which to be fair had done some tours on Support Helicopters) and smartly saluted the said Group Captain.

First thing he said was that next time I was invited to his office I was to wear my best SD hat. I apologised and truthfully said "But this IS my best hat, Sir!"

"Not any more it isn't!" said he....

[brakedwell]

Five years after leaving the RAF and joining an airline I gave my SD cap to a neighbour's future Son in Law, who was in RAF and did have a smart enough lid to get married in!

[airsound]

Does anyone remember when the way to give an SD hat that 'curly' look was to leave it overnight in a flying boot - that was in the days when said boots had a top bit that was wide enough to be able to tuck your flying suit leg into it easily....

airsound

[tucumseh]

Does anyone remember when the way to give an SD hat that 'curly' look was to leave it overnight in a flying boot - that was in the days when said boots had a top bit that was wide enough to be able to tuck your flying suit leg into it easily....

airsound


I was once on a course with Director Special Projects, a Brigadier, who later became a General. He had been Commanding Officer of the Black Watch RHR as a Lt Col. My background meant I was ’paired’ with him at the formal dinner. I realised the host was going to wind him up.

He was asked about the proposal, at the time, that all Highland regiments should give up their No. 1s (kilt, purse, hose, tabs, etc.) to save money. He spluttered into his pudding. He knew better than anyone that one of the prime reasons why this was always resisted was because of the Queen Mum’s brother. Host nudged me and asked my opinion.

‘Anyone who prepares his head gear by plucking a dead chicken, dying the feathers, and steaming them upside down in an egg cup, should be allowed to do what he wants, as he’s plainly mad’.

General Irwin poured me a large malt.

[Mogwi]

After 1982, my small, personal rebellion was to wear the top button of my tunic undone (in true WW2 fashion). It was noticed by senior officers on a number of occasions but after a quick glance at my medal ribbons, never remarked upon.

A certain CO of 72 squadron used to have apoplexy if anyone wore flying boots with uniform. He was involved in the development of the “summer” flying boot, which was produced in BROWN leather to remedy the problem (allegedly).

Mog

[Ninthace]

I turned up for happy hour and was asked by the Stn Cdr why my uniform was so creased. I told him that spending an afternoon in a sweaty cockpit in a parachute harness tended to do that, Sir.

It had been a booming day, I was at a lose end so I had negotiated and aerotow in a lunchtime gap in the UAS traffic, which they agreed provided I did not return before UAS stopped operating.

[Pontius Navigator]

The other SD Hat shaper was one of the shelves in the ubiquitous OM desks.

At Waddington we had a professional flying officer, an AEO who declined to pass the promotion exam for flight lieutenant. In the far one night he waz acosted by the PMC for not wearing an approved lounge suit. He was wearing a very smart number styled like a No 1 jacket. A light coloured cloth, 4 black buttons and I think sewn straps a bit like webbing down to the belt.
When he returned he was then wearing a scarlet red waistcoat.
You couldn't win.

[Pontius Navigator]

Trilby, we were allowed free choice and some favoured pork pie hats, I think mine was Tyrolean with a feather. They were quite popular too. A flat hat was also either permitted or required. I had a Kangol which survived well into the 80s and saw much service when gardening. It was eventually replaced in the 90s with a Napoli, that I saw in Naples but was still made in England.
Now I rarely venture outdoors without a Fedora, Panama, or one of several tweed caps all worn for their thermal and waterproof qualities rather than as a fashion statement.

[Pontius Navigator]

Our DS at Staff College, an Army Officer, assured us that should we ever see two of his colleagues dressed the same we could be sure that one was an imposter.
There was an Army Officer on attachment to the RAF who realised the light blue had no idea of his uniforms and delighted on a different rig every day.

We had the same with our USN Exchange Officer. In succession one wore black, another kharki, another white shirt and black trousers.

Wensleydale will remember a USAF EO who copped out and wore RAF rig.

Interestingly none of them routinely wore chest candy when in the RAF units.
​
7

[Timelord]

And what about singing the National Anthem whilst wearing a hat, as at Twickenham yesterday??

[langleybaston]

At a little village 1100 ceremony today, an army officer and a rockape wing commander in uniform kept their lids on whilst singing. So did this civilian. Sauce. Goose. Gander.

[Paying Guest]

At a little village 1100 ceremony today, an army officer and a rockape wing commander in uniform kept their lids on whilst singing. So did this civilian. Sauce. Goose. Gander.

Ahh, but were the army officer and the rockape wing commander male or female?? In our village this morning we had 2 wing commanders in uniform, one male one female and married to each other.

[langleybaston]

Ahh, but were the army officer and the rockape wing commander male or female?? In our village this morning we had 2 wing commanders in uniform, one male one female and married to each other.

I thought it was rude to ask. Both trousered, but that says little or nothing these days.

[MPN11]

Hat or no hat, I always felt uncomfortable about singing whilst on parade, in uniform.

[teeteringhead]

When a teenage Teeters was flying JPs, he had the misfortune to have his bachelor Sqn Cdr living in.

One Saturday breakfast in the Mess, Teeters was in full country gent mode (he foolishly thought), ready to go and hit town.

Tattersall check shirt, tweed jacket, cav twills and a rather fetching (he foolishly thought) emerald green cravat.....

Approached by said Sqn Cdr........

"Teeteringhead, whatever than green thing around your neck is, it doesn't constitute a tie within the meaning of Mess Rules. Get Out!"

Yes, little ones, a jacket AND TIE was required for Saturday Breakfast within living memory...........

[oxenos]

Does anyone remember when the way to give an SD hat that 'curly' look was to leave it overnight in a flying boot
Having just seen a photo of the Duke of Cambridge, perhaps that is back in fashion. Or perhaps there is no one with the nerve to tell him to get a new one.
I seen to have a problem loading the photo Just click on the gobble de gook below.





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(https://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fmetro.co.uk%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F11%2FPRI_210184416.jpg%3Fquality% 3D90%26strip%3Dall%26zoom%3D1%26resize%3D480%252C319&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fmetro.co.uk%2F2021%2F11%2F14%2Fremem brance-sunday-charles-lays-wreath-at-cenotaph-as-queen-misses-service-15598698%2F&tbnid=JJzyk2GUNgGAmM&vet=12ahUKEwiy3LLXnZr0AhUIZhoKHQ4xDoQQMygGegUIARDLAQ..i&docid=q2eMVsCuWMi-VM&w=480&h=319&itg=1&q=duke%20cambridge%20uniform%20r%20a%20f%20cenotaph&hl=en&ved=2ahUKEwiy3LLXnZr0AhUIZhoKHQ4xDoQQMygGegUIARDLAQ)

[Timelord]

At a little village 1100 ceremony today, an army officer and a rockape wing commander in uniform kept their lids on whilst singing. So did this civilian. Sauce. Goose. Gander.

Nah, uniform hats are different.

[Four Turbo]

AND he is still a Flt Lt. When does rank inflation kick in for the royals?

[Fatjoff]

I always sing the national anthem with one exception: when I am in uniform with my hat on. That's because i'll be saluting, it it wouldn't be seemly to sing and salute at the same time.

Incidentally, isn't the Duke of Cambridge a sqn ldr now?

[oxenos]

He is. Must have passed his "C".

[622]

...And perhaps he could ask his dad to get a haircut! :E

[ORAC]

There you are oxenos - photo on the left…


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/964x506/prc_210191507_a7628f653c438030f7b8cb857f1a351123b33cf5.jpg

[oxenos]

Thanks, ORAC.
That is definitely a "bashed" hat.

[Busta]

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/300x400/thumbnail_b1a5e9a433183738411189bdb4ba5b6685fa65ea.jpg
My hat, Bates finest circa1970

[oxenos]

My hat, Bates finest circa1970
To quote Bing Crosby, ( High Society ),
You must be one of the newer fellahs.

[teeteringhead]

Think HRH's (post No 87) is a Bates too.....

And Gordon Brown should accompany PoW to the Station Barber!

Ooops - thanks 622 - I meant Post 57 of course

[622]

Think HRH's (post No 87) is a Bates too.....



I am awaiting post #87 with great excitement! :E

[MPN11]

Alkit, RAF Feltwell, 1965 et seq.

It fell into a river that year, and thus became an SD Cloth Cap very early in its life. Post 1976, relegated to Range duties at Bisley until the late 90s.
.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1653/img_1358_376210bab1dccf42d816f3a7b646bd5f2c19c628.jpg

[12in95]

Back to suits ........A Tuesday evening in the bar of the Finningley mess during one of the hot spells in the second half of the 70s. Enter PMC, who addresses a Dominie pilot thus 'This is a suit day; do you have the jacket of this suit' pointing to the pilot's trousers (in a rather fetching shade of pink). 'Just one moment, Sir'. Said pilot shortly returns dressed overall as required. Collapse of (rather stout) party to smothered guffaws in back of the room.

[MPN11]

It was at a famous V-Bomber Station, in the early 80s, at the end of an Exercise. A few Stn Exes made their way to the Officers Mess Bar for some relaxing libations, in assorted Combat Dress and Flying Suits. A Living-In Sqn Ldr, already properly attired in a suit, entered and without preamble invited those improperly dressed to retire to the adjacent Scruffs Bar. OC No. 50 Sqn and SATCO humbly complied without demur … the handful of others just left.

Standards, Old Boy. No point in having them if you don’t uphold them.

[ShyTorque]

“Range duties” for hats…..

Paddy Walsh (Puma helicopter flight lieutenant crewman training officer) once had his SD hat used as a target for an air to ground gunnery range session. He had poured scorn on the involved crew’s ability to hit one from the air.

It was “borrowed” from his hat peg and was later put back with a few 7.62mm sized holes and the stuffing pulled out. Those responsible for it thought it hilarious.

Paddy thought it even funnier. He knew exactly what would happen so he’d swapped it earlier for that of a certain Sqn Ldr.

[MPN11]

“Range duties” for hats…..
A retiring member of the RAF Service Pistol Team community asked for his SD Cap to be formally consigned to history on the range. No ricochets were observed, as all the (numerous) 9mm rounds hit the soft crown of his cap. I despatched a photo of a (former) girlfriend in similar manner.
OMG, so long ago now!

[BEagle]

A Living-In Sqn Ldr, already properly attired in a suit, entered and without preamble invited those improperly dressed to retire to the adjacent Scruffs Bar.

Would that have been a certain, rather elderly, beanstealer Sqn Ldr (Spec Aircrew) Vulcan Nav Radar J... W........?

[MPN11]

Would that have been a certain, rather elderly, beanstealer Sqn Ldr (Spec Aircrew) Vulcan Nav Radar J... W........?
You may well be correct.

[Barksdale Boy]

The very same nav radar sqn. ldr. even kicked us out of the Waddo scruffs' bar where we had gone for one or two ales in flying kit after a GV Training Flight sortie in 1980, saying "You may get away with that at Scampton, but you can't here".

[langleybaston]

Tempus fugit. [My O level is German].

Just to think that, until the day I retired as a civvy MetPerson in 1997, to work without a tie was unthinkable. Nowadays if I turned up wearing a tie it would be assumed that I was on the carpet, no coffee, or about to attend a wedding or [black tie] a funeral.

I still am not sure if things are better or worse, but I do have a lot of ties to give away.

[Cat Techie]

There you are oxenos - photo on the left…


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/964x506/prc_210191507_a7628f653c438030f7b8cb857f1a351123b33cf5.jpg

Indeed and the Duke of Cambridge also took the dias for the march past of the Veterans in Horse Guards as the RAF contingent were given the honour of the lead column this year. Singing in Hats? We all did and I have never heard singing like it from the massed ranks of "O God" and the national anthem. A powerful memory to take away. Also to wear my Great Grandfathers mounted campaign medals from the Great War in his home town. I had been told his war record history by my friend whom mounted them this year (that was wonderful news for my mother whom always wished to find out. He would not tell her when alive). Those medals got trooped big time next to my own and I was very fortunate that they were seen quite a bit because of where I was in the column. An emontional day and I am highly unlikely ever to do a veterans march past ever like that again.

[BEagle]

Due to a clash between GV79 and Red Flag, 2 GV crews had to take their bombers home before the end of the competition (too many V-bombers away from base), but would subsequently go back out in a VC10...

That miserable old Nav Rad Sqn Ldr decreed that he was the senior man in our party and that we would pax over in No1s as the AOC was going to be on the same aircraft with us. What an uncomfortable trip that was! Brize to Dulles, then Dulles to Barksdale all trussed up in best blue in the back of the aircraft behind the freight. At one point the AOC, travelling in the front, came back to chat with us - he was travelling in much more comfortable clothes!

Fortunately we didn't have such miseries at Sunny Scampton!

[The Helpful Stacker]

Indeed and the Duke of Cambridge also took the dias for the march past of the Veterans in Horse Guards as the RAF contingent were given the honour of the lead column this year. Singing in Hats? We all did and I have never heard singing like it from the massed ranks of "O God" and the national anthem. A powerful memory to take away. Also to wear my Great Grandfathers mounted campaign medals from the Great War in his home town. I had been told his war record history by my friend whom mounted them this year (that was wonderful news for my mother whom always wished to find out. He would not tell her when alive). Those medals got trooped big time next to my own and I was very fortunate that they were seen quite a bit because of where I was in the column. An emontional day and I am highly unlikely ever to do a veterans march past ever like that again.

It was an absolutely fantastic day, it felt very different this year to many previous ones.

I was privileged to once again parade with the RAF Servicing Commando & Tactical Supply Wing Association. Yes it's a mouthful and too much seemingly for the Duke of Cambridge's sidekick, who described us as "......& Tactical Wing Supply...". To be fair, as a rotary pilot, it was obvious from his look he knew his AdeC was incorrect.

By the front, bimble.....

Once again, post-parade, we retired to our birthplace/drinking establishment on Whitehall, paid our due reverence to Group Captain Craven-Griffiths and were, as always, joined by many fine folks from the Royal Yacht Service (who also use the same venue).

[Cat Techie]

It was an absolutely fantastic day, it felt very different this year to many previous ones.

I was privileged to once again parade with the RAF Servicing Commando & Tactical Supply Wing Association. Yes it's a mouthful and too much seemingly for the Duke of Cambridge's sidekick, who described us as "......& Tactical Wing Supply...". To be fair, as a rotary pilot, it was obvious from his look he knew his AdeC was incorrect.

By the front, bimble.....

Once again, post-parade, we retired to our birthplace/drinking establishment on Whitehall, paid our due reverence to Group Captain Craven-Griffiths and were, as always, joined by many fine folks from the Royal Yacht Service (who also use the same venue).

Indeed. I must admit the RBL did really lose the plot on planning for entry to Horse Guards this year. To call it farcical was an understatement. I had walked from the Mall with an older veteran whom was not impressed, said "Sod this, I will sit down nearer the front and wait there." I was busy talking by that time from mates that were with the Harrier Farce Association. Afterwards it was a lovely meal in the RAF Club. ;)