Using Rank on Retirement
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Mark and Learn
A cautionary tale:
Speaking of our American cousins, several years ago at a dinner in Washington I was sat next to an impressive-looking chap who was not inclined to conversation. I was probably a couple of martinis ahead of him.
I vaguely recalled that he had been introduced as "Colonel" so I took that as a starting point. It was slow going but he eventually disclosed that he was USAF retd. "Oh, how interesting!" I said. "What did you fly?" He was silent for a while then he said "Space Shuttle."
I might have guessed - he oozed the Right Stuff.
Another pause. "Twice."
That shut me up, which obviously suited him just fine.
So I turned my conversational talents on the attractive brunette sitting opposite. Turns out she was a Colonel retd. too. And his wife.
Moral: Retired officers really should drop their ranks. Or perhaps I should drink fewer martinis...
goofer
Speaking of our American cousins, several years ago at a dinner in Washington I was sat next to an impressive-looking chap who was not inclined to conversation. I was probably a couple of martinis ahead of him.
I vaguely recalled that he had been introduced as "Colonel" so I took that as a starting point. It was slow going but he eventually disclosed that he was USAF retd. "Oh, how interesting!" I said. "What did you fly?" He was silent for a while then he said "Space Shuttle."
I might have guessed - he oozed the Right Stuff.
Another pause. "Twice."
That shut me up, which obviously suited him just fine.
So I turned my conversational talents on the attractive brunette sitting opposite. Turns out she was a Colonel retd. too. And his wife.
Moral: Retired officers really should drop their ranks. Or perhaps I should drink fewer martinis...
goofer
Jack
Re surgeons being called "Mister"
I had an appointment to see a consultant urologist about a bladder problem. At reception, I was told I would not be seeing the chap I was expecting but was told I would be seeing Mr Shearer instead. When I was wheeled in I was somewhat confused to see quite an attractive young lady behind the desk. When I asked if I was in the right room, because I was expecting to see Mr Shearer, she laughed and said - "No, I'm Miss Teixera" (a Portuguese name, which sounded just like Mr Shearer). As a surgeon she followed the practice adopted by her male counterparts and referred to herself as Miss. Anyway all went well, and I was so relieved when she told me that surgery would not be required, that when she asked me if I would like her to check my prostate while I was there, I quite happily concurred.
(My prostate was fine as well!)
I had an appointment to see a consultant urologist about a bladder problem. At reception, I was told I would not be seeing the chap I was expecting but was told I would be seeing Mr Shearer instead. When I was wheeled in I was somewhat confused to see quite an attractive young lady behind the desk. When I asked if I was in the right room, because I was expecting to see Mr Shearer, she laughed and said - "No, I'm Miss Teixera" (a Portuguese name, which sounded just like Mr Shearer). As a surgeon she followed the practice adopted by her male counterparts and referred to herself as Miss. Anyway all went well, and I was so relieved when she told me that surgery would not be required, that when she asked me if I would like her to check my prostate while I was there, I quite happily concurred.
(My prostate was fine as well!)
Over the years that I used to visit my Mother in a village in deepest Dorset, I met most of her neighbours at various social functions. There was one very pleasant chap, who had no airs and graces, who was a retired General from a famous infantry regiment. He did not use his rank amongst his neighbours, but his much younger, second wife always referred to him as The General and was most insistent that all and sundry should use his rank when referring to him. As a consequence, she was known, behind her back, as Mrs. General!
When SIL obtained his PhD, he jokingly told his father, a consultant rheumatologist, that now there was a real doctor in the family. His father then revealed that he also had a PhD. It had lain there unnoticed by his family among his other qualifications.
This thread just gets better and better...
I have the misfortune to deal with the Department for Transport on a daily basis and the latest thing appears to be including gender identity after your name in the signature block:
Regards
Papadolmio (He/ Him)
I have the misfortune to deal with the Department for Transport on a daily basis and the latest thing appears to be including gender identity after your name in the signature block:
Regards
Papadolmio (He/ Him)
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Can you not put He/Man. By the powers of greyskull...
I suppose you could, might be accused of body shaming though and not sure whether He-Man is inclusive enough nowadays.
I did wonder about being a bit mischievious and start using it on my company emails just to see how long it took to work it's way through the company- the danger being that I might be seen to be taking the p**s and end up on a inclusivity course or something.
I did wonder about being a bit mischievious and start using it on my company emails just to see how long it took to work it's way through the company- the danger being that I might be seen to be taking the p**s and end up on a inclusivity course or something.
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One of our North Atlantic Barons - the early Captains who were ex WWII bomber pilots - sternly admonished me when as a lowly S/O - Nav. on a Stratocruiser I attracted the co-pilots attention by calling him by his Christian name - We DO NOT use christian names on the flight deck MR XXXXXXXX said the Captain. When eventually gaining command myself, I would introduce myself to the crew by saying that I didn't have a Knighthood, my name was ( Christian name ) and point out that if they were uncomfortable with that, then whilst on duty I was indeed "Captain" but in the bar that night I was ( Christian name )
A psychiatrist died and upon reaching the Pearly Gates St.Peter welcomed him with the words " I'm glad you've come, we're having a little trouble wit God, he thinks he's a BOAC Captain."
A psychiatrist died and upon reaching the Pearly Gates St.Peter welcomed him with the words " I'm glad you've come, we're having a little trouble wit God, he thinks he's a BOAC Captain."
I was leaving Incirlic HQ back in the 90s the day after a new Prowler Sqn had arrived. The whole lot of aircrew were in the car park for their arrival brief. The Colonel brought the whole sqn to attention and saluted me. I went over stood to attention, saluted him and explained I was a OR 9 for future reference. In a southern drawl he said, ‘hey, you’ve done the time and with a badge like that you sure do deserve it’ and shook my hand!
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You almost never hear it these days, certainly not as a means of the individual trying to gain personal advantage, 50 yrs ago it was common enough for a manager to be Major this or Captain that, or an estate owner to be the Brigadier or General.
These days uniformed types dress down into mufti immediately in the UK and don’t use their title, there are disadvantages to that, knowing in advance who you are speaking to influences what you say.
These days uniformed types dress down into mufti immediately in the UK and don’t use their title, there are disadvantages to that, knowing in advance who you are speaking to influences what you say.
Silly little man.Best
OKOC
Sqn Ldr (ret'd)
At one such gathering, Cecil fell into conversation with an interesting chap who had spent some time in the Middle East and afterwards, walked him to Paddington to catch his train home. As he took his leave, he said the fellow "I am sorry, old chap, I didn't catch your name". The reply was a smile followed by "Oh, it's Lawrence".
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This thread just gets better and better...
I have the misfortune to deal with the Department for Transport on a daily basis and the latest thing appears to be including gender identity after your name in the signature block:
Regards
Papadolmio (He/ Him)
I have the misfortune to deal with the Department for Transport on a daily basis and the latest thing appears to be including gender identity after your name in the signature block:
Regards
Papadolmio (He/ Him)
Ref the VC/GC, was it not Bill Speakman who said something along the lines of 'winning it was easy, living up to it is harder'.
My 'favourite' VC of WW2 is John Kennealy aka Leslie Robinson, who won the VC in Tunisia whilst in the Irish Guards having deserted from the Royal Artillery. Look him up, it's quite a story.
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When I was still serving, my wife and I were in a country restaurant celebrating our wedding anniversary and when we were ordering our desert the waitress took the order and retired, only to reappear quite quickly and inform me that there was only one of what I had ordered left and the “Wing Commander” always had that. As she spoke she nodded towards a table in the bay window where an older, white haired, moustachioed, rather noisy gent was sitting with a group. I paused, looked at the menu again and then said, “well, you can tell the Wing Commander that the other Wing Commander is having it tonight.”
And I did.
And I did.
