Saluting Advice Please
The pompous class crap was alive and well as late as the 1950's-1960's and probably later in the RAAF.
'Class'? In Australia, sometimes known as the biggest Sgt's Mess in the world?
Now, now BEagle .....
At one of my RAN appointments, the President of the Senior Ratings' Mess (incidentally a survivor of HMAS VOYAGER the Australian DARING Class destroyer tragically sunk following a collision when acting as planeguard for HMAS MELBOURNE in February 1964) was such a gentleman that he could have given lessons in protocol to the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, and he was by no means a one-off.
Back to saluting, and bearing in mind that the Royal Navy and the RAN don't normally salute on entering offices, when dropping in to pass the time of day, the Chief PTI at the same establishment used to stand in the open doorway of my office and pull himself up to the lintel with his left hand whilst saluting with his right. All worked swimmingly, up to but not including the day when the lintel finally gave way with a crash and hit him on the head! The Chief fell in a heap on the floor, his scalp streaming with blood, but he came up still saluting .....
(seems the appropriate smiley)
Now, now BEagle .....
At one of my RAN appointments, the President of the Senior Ratings' Mess (incidentally a survivor of HMAS VOYAGER the Australian DARING Class destroyer tragically sunk following a collision when acting as planeguard for HMAS MELBOURNE in February 1964) was such a gentleman that he could have given lessons in protocol to the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, and he was by no means a one-off.Back to saluting, and bearing in mind that the Royal Navy and the RAN don't normally salute on entering offices, when dropping in to pass the time of day, the Chief PTI at the same establishment used to stand in the open doorway of my office and pull himself up to the lintel with his left hand whilst saluting with his right. All worked swimmingly, up to but not including the day when the lintel finally gave way with a crash and hit him on the head! The Chief fell in a heap on the floor, his scalp streaming with blood, but he came up still saluting .....
(seems the appropriate smiley)
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Biggest Sgt's Mess in the World
BEagle, is the Sergeant's Mess not something to be proud of? As for questioning our "class", I don't think too many Aussies would give a hoot about how we are viewed. We have too much fun enjoying life to worry about such things.
Last edited by Old Fella; 29th May 2012 at 11:15.
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I was at a cocktail party in an Air Officer's residence, in my capacity as his ADC. His wife told my wife ""The Flt Lt's wives are over there, dear" Charming, even for the 1960s
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well said Old-Fella. Unfortunately I suspect that a lot of what is written on here seemingly in jest, does actually reflect the attitudes of so many of the old farts on here.
S-D
S-D
I suspect that a lot of what is written on here seemingly in jest, does actually reflect the attitudes of so many of the old farts on here.
Australians
Before 'Shewhomustbeobeyed' saw the light and chose me she had an Australian boy friend, Pete H - his old man was instructing at the Army staff college in Camberley.
Pete H went off to join the Oz Army and years later we made contact again. Pete was doing pretty well and made frequent trips to UK, and always came to stay for a night if he had the chance. I made sure I was there of course!
The last visit for General Pete was just before he retired and he had an Oz major on exchange with the Brits ferrying him around. He stayed the night and next morning was being picked up early prior to meetings at MOD. I heard his car arrive and went outside to open the gate, dressed in my dressing gown and wellies. Major gets out, looks at me, throws up a smart salute to Pete and says 'Your secret's safe with me, Sir'. We nearly wet ourselves!
Pete H went off to join the Oz Army and years later we made contact again. Pete was doing pretty well and made frequent trips to UK, and always came to stay for a night if he had the chance. I made sure I was there of course!
The last visit for General Pete was just before he retired and he had an Oz major on exchange with the Brits ferrying him around. He stayed the night and next morning was being picked up early prior to meetings at MOD. I heard his car arrive and went outside to open the gate, dressed in my dressing gown and wellies. Major gets out, looks at me, throws up a smart salute to Pete and says 'Your secret's safe with me, Sir'. We nearly wet ourselves!
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Eccentricty wasn't extant only in the RAF; I recall a RNZAF Group Captain and Station Commander at Wigram when all flying training was done there who took it into his head that no officer who lived off should arrive at work carrying his lunch and should in fact eat in the Mess regardless of the fact that they'd have to pay!
On the other hand, there was, for many years, a Works and Bricks gardener employed at Woodbourne who had a habit of leaping out from behind bushes and throwing a magnificent salute in the direction of any passing officer. Ever obliging, they always returned it!
On the other hand, there was, for many years, a Works and Bricks gardener employed at Woodbourne who had a habit of leaping out from behind bushes and throwing a magnificent salute in the direction of any passing officer. Ever obliging, they always returned it!
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Stumpey, I was seeking clarification, I have never been to a Royal Parade before and didn't want to insult anyone by not being sure of the rules. Obviously your vast experience outshines mine. Next time I will ask your advice re sword drill and which knife and fork to use
By the way, Officers graduate from RAFC Cranwell, they do not 'pass out'.
By the way, Officers graduate from RAFC Cranwell, they do not 'pass out'.
Instead, you look for help and post on a site notorious for banter, name calling and pi$$ taking, and then cry when someone flippantly replies.
Get a grip. What on earth do they allow to 'graduate' from Cranwell these days?
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"There's a scene in 'In Which We Serve' where Noel Coward (so terribly, terribly good) as Captain of HMS Torrin meets the new wife of AB (cor blimey) Blake (John Mills) on a train.
He salutes her"
What else could he do? Everyone knew the old fop was as queer as a coot, and if he'd attempted to act normally towards a woman it would have appeared too out of character to be believeable.
What beats me is why - knowing his habits - he was ever considered for a film role as a naval officer
Surely thats bending things too far?
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edit
On consideration as the ship's captain was supposedly based on Mountbatten maybe we shouldn't be surprised. I wonder if Coward had as close a relationship with Mountbatten as he is said to have had with the Duke of Kent?
He salutes her"
What else could he do? Everyone knew the old fop was as queer as a coot, and if he'd attempted to act normally towards a woman it would have appeared too out of character to be believeable.
What beats me is why - knowing his habits - he was ever considered for a film role as a naval officer
Surely thats bending things too far?
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edit
On consideration as the ship's captain was supposedly based on Mountbatten maybe we shouldn't be surprised. I wonder if Coward had as close a relationship with Mountbatten as he is said to have had with the Duke of Kent?
Last edited by Milo Minderbinder; 30th May 2012 at 19:07.
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'What beats me'
'knowing his habits'
'the old fop'
'queer as a coot'
'film role as a naval officer'
'bending things too far'
Bloody hell Milo, that must be the World Record of the amount of Double Entendre in a single post!
I salute you, Sir.
'knowing his habits'
'the old fop'
'queer as a coot'
'film role as a naval officer'
'bending things too far'
Bloody hell Milo, that must be the World Record of the amount of Double Entendre in a single post!
I salute you, Sir.
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Quote:
As an Officer, I would expect you to use the appropriate resources; QRs, JSPs or heaven forbid you should pick up the phone and call the SWO for advice.
Instead, you look for help and post on a site notorious for banter, name calling and pi$$ taking, and then cry when someone flippantly replies.
Get a grip. What on earth do they allow to 'graduate' from Cranwell these days?
Not you obviously
As an Officer, I would expect you to use the appropriate resources; QRs, JSPs or heaven forbid you should pick up the phone and call the SWO for advice.
Instead, you look for help and post on a site notorious for banter, name calling and pi$$ taking, and then cry when someone flippantly replies.
Get a grip. What on earth do they allow to 'graduate' from Cranwell these days?
Not you obviously
Samuel - you suddenly made me dredge something from the past - the old Ministry of Works guy at RNZAF Woodbourne throwing salutes. I did an engineering course (as a cadet) in 1978 which involved ground-running Harvards and I remember the old chap who would always stop and wave as we marched over from the GSTS barracks to the 4 TTS classrooms.
He wasn't quite the full quid, but he was gone when I was posted to WB as a young officer in the mid 1980s.
There was also a General Service Hand there - ex FS Safety and Surface worker- wee Jock, who delivered the mail and managed all sorts of barely-legal scams to make the office run smoothly. He was somewhat reluctant to move with the times - he was still maintaining Gestetner stencils of course notes even when each section had its own photocopier. But he used to snap me a very sharp salute - and he was old enough to be my grandfather!
He wasn't quite the full quid, but he was gone when I was posted to WB as a young officer in the mid 1980s.
There was also a General Service Hand there - ex FS Safety and Surface worker- wee Jock, who delivered the mail and managed all sorts of barely-legal scams to make the office run smoothly. He was somewhat reluctant to move with the times - he was still maintaining Gestetner stencils of course notes even when each section had its own photocopier. But he used to snap me a very sharp salute - and he was old enough to be my grandfather!
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When that old Works employee finally retired, the boys from the Repair Depot had a presentation of a "medal" which consisted of an oversized piece of polished dural! (It's true he wasn't the full quid,but harmless]. They even made the presentation at a small parade attended by the CO! I kid you not, the recipient wasn't the only one there not quite the full quid, but it was typical air force humour at its very best!
In 1978 the CO was, I think , an outspoken fella name of Ross *****son who had lost an eye in a birdstrike while flying a Skyhawk on exchange with the USAF. It was true that he didn't suffer fools gladly! As a Sqn Ldr I had to go over as minder to two Public Service Association [PSA] reps[that's Civil Service union to those in the UK], for a meeting on some very minor issues. Ross greeted them in his office with a salute, of course, and poured the tea etc, and then sat back and suggested the PSA list their complaints. They came up with a long list of petty items needing to be remedied, and finished with "and we'd like the answer now!" "Certainly" said Ross "provided you are prepared to accept "get F***ed" as an answer".
In 1978 the CO was, I think , an outspoken fella name of Ross *****son who had lost an eye in a birdstrike while flying a Skyhawk on exchange with the USAF. It was true that he didn't suffer fools gladly! As a Sqn Ldr I had to go over as minder to two Public Service Association [PSA] reps[that's Civil Service union to those in the UK], for a meeting on some very minor issues. Ross greeted them in his office with a salute, of course, and poured the tea etc, and then sat back and suggested the PSA list their complaints. They came up with a long list of petty items needing to be remedied, and finished with "and we'd like the answer now!" "Certainly" said Ross "provided you are prepared to accept "get F***ed" as an answer".
Last edited by Samuel; 30th May 2012 at 14:16.
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'Officers and their ladies
NCOs and their wives
Other ranks and their women'
NCOs and their wives
Other ranks and their women'
NCOs are "confused"
Other ranks are "drunk"
Ross was CO of Wigram from c 84 - 87 - and famously had the glass 'AH' eye - his son was a chef at Woodbourne at the time. He was also CO when I went through 2 Mess in 85. Happy days!
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[quoteRoss was CO of Wigram from c 84 - 87 - and famously had the glass 'AH' eye - his son was a chef at Woodbourne at the time. He was also CO when I went through 2 Mess in 85. Happy days][/quote]
Ross sadly died a few years ago. His son is now a journalist!
Ross sadly died a few years ago. His son is now a journalist!
