Mrs Bloggs 'At Home' Etiquette/Protocols
Originally Posted by sisemen
If one is greeted with an apparation wearing a vest and tatoos proferring an open beer bottle then it would be appropriate to call him "mate" or "mukker" or somesuch.
Red On, Green On
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"Admiral", surely?
No names, no packdrill, Sir D ....
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It turns out that, as I found out at another social event (there appears to be no rest in the social calender here!!!), that Mr Bloggs is/ was in fact Col Bloggs, although not entirely clear whether that is really Lt Col or Col.... Nevertheless, he doesnt appear to dwell on his rank, and his happy to be known by his first name.
It also appears that Colonels are tea boys in the rank structure of this village....
MM
ps if Mrs MM were to discover me with Cols daughter I would require both extraction team AND comouflage and concealment training.
It also appears that Colonels are tea boys in the rank structure of this village....
MM
ps if Mrs MM were to discover me with Cols daughter I would require both extraction team AND comouflage and concealment training.
ps if Mrs MM were to discover me with Cols daughter I would require both extraction team AND comouflage and concealment training
As for discovering who Col Bloggs is, you need to get yourself a copy of Volume 3 (I think) of the Army List which I believe is the Retired List and gives a brief run down on an individual. You might have to go to the Library for this - or ask one of the MOD libraries such as MOD or Aldershot as the Army List has now gone online and the data protection rules mean they can no longer publish the Retired List.
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MM,
Lt. Col or Full Col, I think the corps, regiment, unit and years of service are more important as Melchett01 indicates.
At least being ex services you have plenty of conversation pieces so things are looking up.
Why do you say " It also appears that Colonels are tea boys in the rank structure of this village...."
Do you have a few General's and Admirals in the village ?
Lt. Col or Full Col, I think the corps, regiment, unit and years of service are more important as Melchett01 indicates.
At least being ex services you have plenty of conversation pieces so things are looking up.
Why do you say " It also appears that Colonels are tea boys in the rank structure of this village...."
Do you have a few General's and Admirals in the village ?
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Melchett01.
"And having spent a large part of my university days being repeatedly 'overpowered' by a 1*s eldest daughter, I can confirm it isn't as bad as you might think. Character building I think is the phrase."
What was "Character building" - "being 'overpowered' by a 1*s eldest daughter"
or facing the 1* when he found out LOL
"And having spent a large part of my university days being repeatedly 'overpowered' by a 1*s eldest daughter, I can confirm it isn't as bad as you might think. Character building I think is the phrase."
What was "Character building" - "being 'overpowered' by a 1*s eldest daughter"
or facing the 1* when he found out LOL
Ref Rossian's post at 272
Of course, if one were remiss enough to misplace one's fragrant other half, in a shopping mall (I know, but someone's got to do it), at a "do" such as this, a sporting event, or other such crowded social ocasion, there is one sure fire way to find her instantly....
....start talking to good looking member of the opposite sex!!
Of course, if one were remiss enough to misplace one's fragrant other half, in a shopping mall (I know, but someone's got to do it), at a "do" such as this, a sporting event, or other such crowded social ocasion, there is one sure fire way to find her instantly....
....start talking to good looking member of the opposite sex!!
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Of course if Col Bloggs is 'late' of the AAC, he may well have been reading this thread for the past couple of weeks. So beware if on arrival he greets you with:
"Ah Mr and Mrs MM, so glad you could make it today, I'm sorry that our daughter has been unable to join us today. Now what would Mrs MM like to drink? I know you, Mr MM, would either like a 20yr malt or a bottle of beer"
Looking forward to the Purple (maritime post op report)!
S206
"Ah Mr and Mrs MM, so glad you could make it today, I'm sorry that our daughter has been unable to join us today. Now what would Mrs MM like to drink? I know you, Mr MM, would either like a 20yr malt or a bottle of beer"
Looking forward to the Purple (maritime post op report)!
S206
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Col or Lt Col it matters not as in the socialarea they are all Colonel. A few Sirs dropped in to the conversation would not go amiss.
Now a flt lt I know really endeared himself to his CoC. He called the major by his first name and flattly refused to call the Lt Col - Colonel Bob (or whatever) prefering instead to call him Boss.
Funnily enough our tree surgeon called me Boss but his sidekick said it didn't seem right and called me Mr PN instead.
Now a flt lt I know really endeared himself to his CoC. He called the major by his first name and flattly refused to call the Lt Col - Colonel Bob (or whatever) prefering instead to call him Boss.
Funnily enough our tree surgeon called me Boss but his sidekick said it didn't seem right and called me Mr PN instead.
Not Sure I Like That...
......... Sorry PN but I'm not sure I can agree with you.
In a social setting, the use of the word 'Sir' - in UK speak but not USA speak - is too formal. Until you are familar with the 'senior officer', the use of the (former) rank is polite and will be appreciated: 'Mr' will not.
Some people are happy to be called 'Boss', others not so. I still call my doctor; 'Doctor', my animals' Vet; 'Mrs' and the principal of the school where I pretend to be an RAFVR(T) officer - despite my antiquity - 'Headmaster'. When they say; 'old duffer, do call me Algernon', I shall do so.
As with others who use this site, I still encounter the odd cove who I would gladly see boiled alive but I still try to be civil. It all comes down to one thing: GOOD MANNERS!!
In a social setting, the use of the word 'Sir' - in UK speak but not USA speak - is too formal. Until you are familar with the 'senior officer', the use of the (former) rank is polite and will be appreciated: 'Mr' will not.
Some people are happy to be called 'Boss', others not so. I still call my doctor; 'Doctor', my animals' Vet; 'Mrs' and the principal of the school where I pretend to be an RAFVR(T) officer - despite my antiquity - 'Headmaster'. When they say; 'old duffer, do call me Algernon', I shall do so.
As with others who use this site, I still encounter the odd cove who I would gladly see boiled alive but I still try to be civil. It all comes down to one thing: GOOD MANNERS!!
the use of the (former) rank is polite and will be appreciated: 'Mr' will not.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
O-D, I am not sure what you found to disagree about apart from the Sir-Col bit.
Now a friend of mine, former WO1/Captain, always calls me Sir when he visits. I have known him for 10 years and he worked as my contract manager for the first 4 of these!
The 'Sir' bit or 'Colonel' bit is probably as much to do with Service as manners. Would you seriously drop Group Captain in to the conversation as less formal than Sir?
Now our brown bretheren may be happier with Colonel or General rather than Sir and Colonel Bob is certainly the norm rather than Group Captain Al.
Now a friend of mine, former WO1/Captain, always calls me Sir when he visits. I have known him for 10 years and he worked as my contract manager for the first 4 of these!
The 'Sir' bit or 'Colonel' bit is probably as much to do with Service as manners. Would you seriously drop Group Captain in to the conversation as less formal than Sir?
Now our brown bretheren may be happier with Colonel or General rather than Sir and Colonel Bob is certainly the norm rather than Group Captain Al.
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500N
You ask the question as to whether there are a few Generals /Admirals in MM's village. Maybe it is full of Air Vice Ms and Air Chief Ms. Why did you not consider that?
PS Old Duffer And breeding
You ask the question as to whether there are a few Generals /Admirals in MM's village. Maybe it is full of Air Vice Ms and Air Chief Ms. Why did you not consider that?
PS Old Duffer And breeding
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thegypsy
No real reason, except most of the previous pages on this thread have been referring to Colonel's and Admiral's (except the part on the daughter of a 1 star which could be any of the services) so was just continuing along those lines.
I'll make sure in the future I don't offend by including the RAF Officer ranks
No real reason, except most of the previous pages on this thread have been referring to Colonel's and Admiral's (except the part on the daughter of a 1 star which could be any of the services) so was just continuing along those lines.
I'll make sure in the future I don't offend by including the RAF Officer ranks
Last edited by 500N; 20th Nov 2010 at 22:12.
Lt. Col or Full Col, I think the corps, regiment, unit and years of service are more important as Melchett01 indicates.
And the 1* was fine ..... Mrs 1* on the other hand wasn't quite as
impressed
O-D - so just how does one use RAF ranks in a social setting? Unlike our sister services whose ranks can be abridged to one word - Colonel, General, Commander, Admiral etc, RAF ranks are a bit of a mouthful. I for one would find it a little tongue-tyign constantly refering to your host as Gp Capt, Wg Cdr etc.
This is what I do....
Melchett,
I call anything from AVM upwards 'air marshal' and introduce them as such. I call the only MRAF I deal with; 'Sir' and introduce him as 'Sir *****' since its most unlikely that he is unknown in the circles in which we mix.
All other officers I use their rank if addressing them formally and on first introduction to someone else. WOs and non commissioned personnel, I call 'Mr' and introduce them as such. In my experience the rank/status thing quickly becomes irrelevent
I run a loose association of ex-RAF guys and we are strictly 'rank neutral'. When I first invite them to join, I address them by their service rank but then tell them that this will be the last time it will be used unless the Queen comes to dinner.
The above applies in a vaguely service setting. In a predominantly civilian setting I use first names and introduce the ex-service guy as 'Jeremy Ponsby-Symthe' (this only works if he is Jeremy P-S you Understand!!!!). If the matter of service career comes up then I say something like; 'Jeremy served in the Army for many years, I'm sure he'll tell you about his many misadventures'. I never say; 'Jeremy won the MC attacking the &^*%, you know'.
Sorry if this all sounds laboured and unneccessary but it does seem to work and I believe that courtesy and civility cost nothing. I'm even civil to the only person I actually hated in my time in the mob - difficult though that still is!!
O-D
I call anything from AVM upwards 'air marshal' and introduce them as such. I call the only MRAF I deal with; 'Sir' and introduce him as 'Sir *****' since its most unlikely that he is unknown in the circles in which we mix.
All other officers I use their rank if addressing them formally and on first introduction to someone else. WOs and non commissioned personnel, I call 'Mr' and introduce them as such. In my experience the rank/status thing quickly becomes irrelevent
I run a loose association of ex-RAF guys and we are strictly 'rank neutral'. When I first invite them to join, I address them by their service rank but then tell them that this will be the last time it will be used unless the Queen comes to dinner.
The above applies in a vaguely service setting. In a predominantly civilian setting I use first names and introduce the ex-service guy as 'Jeremy Ponsby-Symthe' (this only works if he is Jeremy P-S you Understand!!!!). If the matter of service career comes up then I say something like; 'Jeremy served in the Army for many years, I'm sure he'll tell you about his many misadventures'. I never say; 'Jeremy won the MC attacking the &^*%, you know'.
Sorry if this all sounds laboured and unneccessary but it does seem to work and I believe that courtesy and civility cost nothing. I'm even civil to the only person I actually hated in my time in the mob - difficult though that still is!!
O-D
I have always found military/diplomatic protocol an interesting subject. So if Mrs E and I were also invited to said function would the same rules be applicable to civilians ?
Emeritus
Emeritus
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Using flight lieutenant etc is, I would agree, a bit of a mouthful. Recall a radio play a while back, possibly set in Hampshire, where the local dig who was opening the village fete was referred to continually as 'the air marshal'; name dropping par excellance.
Now I know two Nigels and an Andy I would hesitate to call them air marshal, OTOH I also know a couple of ACM and would only greeting them as Sir and not Paddy or Bill
. I might introduce them by rank however.
Same Rules Apply
Emeritus,
In my view, if you were in a largely service setting you would be introduced and first addressed by your civilian 'handle'; Doctor, Professor, Sir Fred Emeritus, Sir Fred and Lady Penelope Emeritus. How you decide to proceed is up to you: "Please call me Fred". I do know a lady, however, who signs herself 'Mrs >>>>> %%%%% OBE'.
In a civilian setting, it rather depends on the gathering, some are very formal, others less so. As with much else, I find the services approach is much more structured and I feel more comfortable following the basic tenet: 'start formal, relax later'. It saves on the odd gaff.
At the risk of appearing a pompous old (f&^t) duffer, if there is somebody I know might be ill at ease or is in strange company, I do try to see they are looked after and introduced around. It can backfire, however, when you find yourself saddled with the local bore and he won't go away and nobody is going to help you out!!
O-D
In my view, if you were in a largely service setting you would be introduced and first addressed by your civilian 'handle'; Doctor, Professor, Sir Fred Emeritus, Sir Fred and Lady Penelope Emeritus. How you decide to proceed is up to you: "Please call me Fred". I do know a lady, however, who signs herself 'Mrs >>>>> %%%%% OBE'.
In a civilian setting, it rather depends on the gathering, some are very formal, others less so. As with much else, I find the services approach is much more structured and I feel more comfortable following the basic tenet: 'start formal, relax later'. It saves on the odd gaff.
At the risk of appearing a pompous old (f&^t) duffer, if there is somebody I know might be ill at ease or is in strange company, I do try to see they are looked after and introduced around. It can backfire, however, when you find yourself saddled with the local bore and he won't go away and nobody is going to help you out!!
O-D