Commissioned from the ranks.
In a very fine cavalry regiment in which I served, we had an LE officer whose surname was Major; from a cav perspective, it was confusing all his career: Corporal Major (HCav thing), Sergeant Major, Staff Sergeant Major, Sergeant Major Major, eventually to Major Major.
and there was a certain Bastard of course.
sounds like a solicitor or an estate agent!
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On my promotion to sqn ldr I returned to Eastern Radar after a gap of just 3 years. In those days MATO tour lengths were undefined, so it was not surprising that many (most?) of my fellow JOs from my first tour were still there. They were very decent about never mentioning my past indiscretions, of which there had been a few
He was (in earlier life - Sqn Ldr ?) the pilot of that nice Canberra photo where it is photographed from above - rolling inverted over a snowy landscape (lovely picture )
There was a ground branch officer going by the name of Plt Off Darling on 617 Sqn a fair few years back, early-mid 90s IIRC. Unfortunately for him, he decided to seek pastures new and transferred to the Army and became Captain Darling.
Just as a certain TV series was becoming far more popular and mainstream!
Just as a certain TV series was becoming far more popular and mainstream!
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I went from SAC on My FT course and came back as a JT which was unusual, I was due to go into ASF as it was, but my boss kicked up a stink as he had requested I was posted back to the station and then after a chat to Eng wing got me back on same shift and same desk as whence I departed 9 months earlier. Most were posted elsewhere.
We had a Bob Vere who's father was called Percy by his granddad as he took a while to conceive.
We had a Bob Vere who's father was called Percy by his granddad as he took a while to conceive.
Cunning Artificer
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eventually to Major Major.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
MPN, my second plotted on Vulcans had been promoted while on 139 and not posted till they disbanded. While he was happy to remain as Frank in the crew room in private, one 'mate' would insist on calling him Frank in public. It was embarrassing to all when Frank had to admonish him.
Getting back to the original thread.... Our adj was a Sergeant rear gunner on Lancs and flew with the CO on 49 Squadron. A couple of colonials in the crew got put up for commissions and accepted. He asked the CO about a commission for himself and when he was telling me the story, gave the CO's reply in his best clipped tone: 'Err wait until you've done a few more trips'. Apparently the CO wasn't too keen on NCO pilots, so he was probably even less keen on NCO gunners asking for a commission. As far as I know he never was commissioned until after he was posted out, having been on the squadron for a year, which was some achievement back in 42-3!