Your husband will never be promoted if you wear trousers
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Phil, based in Essex says it all, and whilst I don't know you I'm sure you're not a knob despite your daft questions. If the guy's a military officer and you don't know his rank and it's a formal occasion call him/ her sir/ ma'am. He/She will let you know if that's OK or if a less formal address would be appropriate. If at a relaxed social function introduce yourself and take it from there. Simple really...one does not need a book on etiquette.Watch out for their spouses however.
Like I implied earlier, there are those that think the bull is important and worth taking seriously. And there are/were plenty of us who know that is it a load of crap and just something to take the piss out of. Either way, what the taxpayer wants/needs is a military professional and that's the only thing that I ever took seriously.
there was Liam Fox (before he resigned) walking with one of his "job for the boys" bag carriers. Could someone please explain what that silly looking bit of gold curtain rope draped on their uniforms is all about?
CG
Back in the days when we had a few ships and WRNS hofficers wore blue rings on their sleeves the norm was to raise your cap and say 'morning ma'am'. Always appreciated and more personal than flicking one up to the eyebrow.
Conversely, there was a time when WRNS ratings were only required to salute officers of the rank of Commander and above. Shortly after the rules changed and they were required to salute officers of all ranks, I was walking through a major shore establishment during a visit with my Admiral and one pretty young Wren gave us a very cheerful "Good morning!" but failed to salute even an officer of flag rank. The Boss suggested that I have a quiet word with her, so I dropped back and broached the subject gently, saying, "Haven't you forgotten something?"
Checking her blouse was fully buttoned and that her stocking seams were straight, she replied brightly, "No, I don't think so, Sir", so I persevered with "Do you remember something special that happened on 1st July?", the date the rules had changed. Her face lit up, and she replied with astonishment, "Gosh, Sir, you are clever! However did you know it was my mum's birthday?", and went merrily on her way - without saluting of course!
Jack
Conversely, there was a time when WRNS ratings were only required to salute officers of the rank of Commander and above. Shortly after the rules changed and they were required to salute officers of all ranks, I was walking through a major shore establishment during a visit with my Admiral and one pretty young Wren gave us a very cheerful "Good morning!" but failed to salute even an officer of flag rank. The Boss suggested that I have a quiet word with her, so I dropped back and broached the subject gently, saying, "Haven't you forgotten something?"
Checking her blouse was fully buttoned and that her stocking seams were straight, she replied brightly, "No, I don't think so, Sir", so I persevered with "Do you remember something special that happened on 1st July?", the date the rules had changed. Her face lit up, and she replied with astonishment, "Gosh, Sir, you are clever! However did you know it was my mum's birthday?", and went merrily on her way - without saluting of course!
Jack
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Aiguillette
Could someone please explain what that silly looking bit of gold curtain rope draped on their uniforms is all about
With pleasure:
There are four types of aiguillette worn by the British Armed Forces.
Aiguillettes (1st Class or Royal) are of gold-wire cord and are worn on the right shoulder by, among others, admirals of the fleet, field marshals and marshals of the RAF (including members of the Royal Family who hold these ceremonial ranks, but not members such as The Prince of Wales, The Duke of York and The Duke of Cambridge who hold earned military ranks); honorary physicians, honorary chaplains, honorary surgeons and aides-de-camp to the Sovereign; equerries to members of the royal family. Some appointments carry the privilege of wearing miniature Sovereign's Cypher on the points of the aiguillettes. These aiguillettes are also worn by commissioned officers of the Household Cavalry (in full dress only). They are worn on the left shoulder in full dress by warrant officers of the Household Cavalry.
Aiguillettes (2nd Class or Board) are of gold and dark blue, crimson or light blue depending if worn by Royal Navy, Army or RAF officers and are worn on the right shoulder by, among others, military members of the Defence Board and each Service Board and the personal staff of governors. A simplified version with no coils is worn on the left shoulder by staff corporals, corporals of horse and lance corporals of horse of the Household Cavalry in full dress.
Aiguillettes (3rd Class or Staff) are of gold and dark blue, crimson or light blue depending if worn by Royal Navy, Army or RAF officers. They are worn on the left shoulder by, among others, attachés, assistants and aides-de-camp.
See: Aiguillette - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
You see parabellum I know all about ropes
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"Half-past three . . . wack."
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Could someone please explain what that silly looking bit of gold curtain rope draped on their uniforms is all about? I think in home furnishing terms my girlfriend calls them 'swags' and apparently Dunelm sell them. I think i've seen admiral types wearing them too.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Come come sir, HRH (aka the king with no clothes) can allow his valet to make a "faux pas". He will expect the serfs (you & I) to pretend it didn't happen then follow his lead
.
Many "senior" officers follow these irrelevant events like groupies at a Rolling Stones concert - nonchaknow......
. Many "senior" officers follow these irrelevant events like groupies at a Rolling Stones concert - nonchaknow......
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Maybe HRH doesn't read wikipedia. In the Torygraph today he has his adornment on the right shoulder.
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HRH is also an ADC to the Queen.
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should I leave too, as I do not fit the criteria?
A forum for the professionals who fly the non-civilian hardware, and the backroom boys and girls without whom nothing would leave the ground. Army, Navy and Airforces of the World, all equally welcome here.
backroom boys and girls without whom nothing would leave the ground
If things get any worse I might actually have to go & do some work.......
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Ken, threads drift and this diversification is actually quite interesting.
OK, we got invited to a wardroom bash on a Royal Navy vessel (don't ask me type - not good with ships). The occasion was due to a visiting Admiral. The officers had decided to invite a couple who owned a hotel they frequented on shore visits. After many drinks the lady decided to do her party piece of hand stands. Probably more appropriate in the other ranks mess as she wasn't wearing any underwear
Never got to hear what was said at the Captain's 'debrief'.
OK, we got invited to a wardroom bash on a Royal Navy vessel (don't ask me type - not good with ships). The occasion was due to a visiting Admiral. The officers had decided to invite a couple who owned a hotel they frequented on shore visits. After many drinks the lady decided to do her party piece of hand stands. Probably more appropriate in the other ranks mess as she wasn't wearing any underwear
Never got to hear what was said at the Captain's 'debrief'.
Just out of idle curiosity, who is going to be the first military PPruner to tell CAS that he wears "a silly looking bit of gold curtain rope" resembling a "swag"? 
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Just out of idle curiosity, who is going to be the first military PPruner to tell CAS that he wears "a silly looking bit of gold curtain rope" resembling a "swag"?
Last edited by Exascot; 17th Oct 2011 at 10:30. Reason: spellin
Just out of idle curiosity, who is going to be the first military PPruner to tell CAS that he wears "a silly looking bit of gold curtain rope" resembling a "swag"?
FODPlod - I believe you just did.
Exascot - Like the fine distinction.
Jack
FODPlod - I believe you just did.
Exascot - Like the fine distinction.
Jack
That would Mrs Mary Hinge, I take it?
***Thread Hijack***
Has any fellow PPruner noticed that the metal bits of the Aiguillettes have the Mussolini-Era Fascinae symbol on them? That is the ‘bundle of sticks (fascines in English) and axe’ symbol used by the Italian Fascist leader. Why?
And Why oh Why, when drunk at a Dining In attended by members of the Air Force Board did I decide to approach a well-known Irish chap and grab his, err, dangly bits and point this piece of trivia out to him? The conversation was rather short, along the lines of ‘Unhand me – you are drunk’, which was true enough. But this remains an unanswered question (just looked at my set locked away with all my other soon-to-be disposed of RAF ephemera and confirmed that I hadn’t dreamt it!).
And Why oh Why, when drunk at a Dining In attended by members of the Air Force Board did I decide to approach a well-known Irish chap and grab his, err, dangly bits and point this piece of trivia out to him? The conversation was rather short, along the lines of ‘Unhand me – you are drunk’, which was true enough. But this remains an unanswered question (just looked at my set locked away with all my other soon-to-be disposed of RAF ephemera and confirmed that I hadn’t dreamt it!).
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
A Cranditz flt lt friend of mine, latterly an AVM, thought our uniform and thought we should wear No 1 all the time and that they should be embellished with brassards etc, probably gold piping on the trousers too.
Fortunately he was shuffled off to SHAPE to play with nuclear weapons where he couldn't do any harm.
Fortunately he was shuffled off to SHAPE to play with nuclear weapons where he couldn't do any harm.