Using Rank on Retirement
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Norwich
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
or Miss 
My mate regularly used to shuttle senior RAF officers around in a Company aircraft when they were visiting certain facilities regarding RAF Contracts... he often said he would be chatting away to them about the RAF but sadly never got the opportunity to tell them he used to be an SAC, they just seemed to naturally assume he’d been an officer.
My mate regularly used to shuttle senior RAF officers around in a Company aircraft when they were visiting certain facilities regarding RAF Contracts... he often said he would be chatting away to them about the RAF but sadly never got the opportunity to tell them he used to be an SAC, they just seemed to naturally assume he’d been an officer.
Join Date: May 2018
Location: UK
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There are a few d*cks who call themselves Captain outside work.
They are d*cks and normally wear long sleeve shirts as well in the flight deck!
A recently retired admiral came to live in the village. On his first visit to the pub he was asked by the landlord how he preferred to be addressed. "Either admiral, or Sir John, I don't mind really". On his next visit he was somewhat taken aback when the resident wag called out from his usual position on a stool at the end of the bar, "Hello sailor!"
TTN, BA (Exon)
TTN, BA (Exon)
Had a similar discussion with my local GP about the use of 'Doctor'. He also happens to be a (retd) Surgeon-General but has a very down to earth approach to use of title. I have the (un)fortunate position of having obtained a Post Hole Digger following 13+ years of study, and our normal greeting was 'Morning Doctor' - 'Morning Doctor' when connecting with one another. He said he much preferred the use of 'Physician' as that described what he did - said he did not wish to be associated with Dentists, Vets or Psychiatrists!
Did have one benefit for me though. Fronted up to his surgery one night with a pain in the back. Turned out it was DVT. He promptly called the Ambulance and also the Hospital and told them Dr. 'Plainmaker' was about to be admitted. The subsequent bowing and scaping (and priority) from within the medical facility was palpable.
Did have one benefit for me though. Fronted up to his surgery one night with a pain in the back. Turned out it was DVT. He promptly called the Ambulance and also the Hospital and told them Dr. 'Plainmaker' was about to be admitted. The subsequent bowing and scaping (and priority) from within the medical facility was palpable.
Interesting thread in some ways. The comparison to a doctor as being stated as a qualification gained is somewhat spurious. I have had the privilege of meeting a number of medical personal that I would not call “Doctor” just because they had the degree hanging on the wall and to suggest doing so once retired is questionable. The qualifications gained in the civilian world that allows the individual to continue to wear the title after retirement but than to deride the doing so of an individual that served in the military not to do so is, without sounding too PC, lacking in fairness. Admittedly they are two different world’s where military rank has little no meaning in the civilian community. But I must admit if someone introduced themselves as Doctor so and so I would introduce myself as Mister so and so. If you are going to acknowledge someone’s qual’s by allowing them to maintain the title in retirement I don’t see the issue with allowing someone to do so after X amount of years in uniform. And although rank is an appointment it is not just given, unless you join with other qual’s (such as Doctor), and therefore earned. And before we have a retort that I must be one that uses my rank in retirement because of my post, no I do not (but I do love to argue the other side of the coin).
When I first started my (civilian) career, a senior colleague who had seen serious action in WW II. Told me that straight after the war, when he was in my position, he had a senior colleague who, even when booking into a country pub, used his WW I military rank - "Wagstaff's the name; Captain". He also tried to pull that rank, but was swiftly put down both by his juniors, most of whom had fought in WW II, and his boss, who had been a fighting Brigadier then.
The Brigadier was always known as "The Brig."
The Brigadier was always known as "The Brig."
"Late again Smythe! That's the second time this week you know. You're a retired military guy aren't you? I bet you didn't turn up late then!"
"Well, I am a little embarrassed to admit it, but in the latter years I did rather."
"Really? You amaze me! So when you turned up late then, what did they say?"
"Usually it was something like: Good morning Admiral. Can I get I get you a coffee, sir?"
[sorry, I know it's an old one but it seemed appropriate somehow
]
"Well, I am a little embarrassed to admit it, but in the latter years I did rather."
"Really? You amaze me! So when you turned up late then, what did they say?"
"Usually it was something like: Good morning Admiral. Can I get I get you a coffee, sir?"
[sorry, I know it's an old one but it seemed appropriate somehow
]
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
In my last couple of years in the RAF I got involved in a substantial amount of research and development work involving civilians engineers (which led to my subsequent job as a systems engineer, but that’s another matter).
I found most of them referred to me as “doctor ORAC” amongst themselves on the mistaken assumption that I must also have a PhD. I never disabused them....
I found most of them referred to me as “doctor ORAC” amongst themselves on the mistaken assumption that I must also have a PhD. I never disabused them....
Strangely enough, according to Debrett's, as a Flight Lieutenant you should not, but as a Captain, providing your post was connected with horses, you can.
The Princess Royal's second husband held much more senior rank, but you don't hear it being referred to daily in quite the same way!
Mr Blandford, the delightful chap who owned the ironmongery in Ilminster, which was one of those old 'sell everything' places with a wooden floor and smelt of creosote, would address anyone who'd been in the Armed Forces using their rank title, no matter whether they liked it or not! But that was in the '50s, when small town life was rather different and most people in their thirties had probably served during the war.
..... So I am always very suspicious of anyone who uses their rank post retirement. Do some of them understand how widely they are broadcasting their failure?
The 2 exceptions were an ex-FS and an ex-Air Cdre. How the RAF ever survived after they left was simply amazing! Oh, until you found out the jobs they each had prior to leaving the Mob and the "interesting" views of those who'd served with them!
Of course, you do get people like the Landlord of my local who, on finding out I'd "done me time", has been known to greet me loudly at the Bar with "Aw gawd, it's the bleedin' Admiral!" as he knows how much it annoys me. Of course, my response, in my best Nelsonian tone of voice, is always "Ah, Bar Steward! Mine's a pint of XYZ!". Of course, in my reply, the gap between the words "Bar" and "Steward" is almost non-existant!
Last edited by Hot 'n' High; 21st Jan 2021 at 09:16. Reason: Added "ex-" before the Ranks in Para 2 as it would so annoy them!!
Never used mine, except when I was giving a witness statement to protect a neighbour from a vexatious litigant.
I had to laugh when my neighbour asked if I used it in general. He used to work in personnel at Vickers where the gravy train of retired Colonels was well greased. One of said cadre sent a memo around on his arrival telling everyone he wished to be called Colonel. The General Manager of the site, ex national service only, issued a memo the following day instructing that he was to be referred to as Leading Bandsman W.!
I had to laugh when my neighbour asked if I used it in general. He used to work in personnel at Vickers where the gravy train of retired Colonels was well greased. One of said cadre sent a memo around on his arrival telling everyone he wished to be called Colonel. The General Manager of the site, ex national service only, issued a memo the following day instructing that he was to be referred to as Leading Bandsman W.!
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 32,742
Received 2,726 Likes
on
1,159 Posts
The only addressing in a bar the Navy needs is...
Watch your rear, the Navies here.
I always find it sad people appear to want to cling onto their past ranks, but hey ho, if it makes them feel good in themselves then let it be.
Dentists in the UK are not given the title Doctor, even though the first few years o their courses are I believe identical.
Watch your rear, the Navies here.
I always find it sad people appear to want to cling onto their past ranks, but hey ho, if it makes them feel good in themselves then let it be.
He said he much preferred the use of 'Physician' as that described what he did - said he did not wish to be associated with Dentists, Vets or Psychiatrists!
I agree with (b) tho, it's just I find it annoying to think that such people think I'm stupid enough to buy it!
Still, it's quite funny to see what they think people think of them ...... but to know what those people really think of them! And, end of the day, once 6ft under, the worms won't give a stuff!
My History and Economics master at school, who was also a close neighbour, had been a Squadron Leader during WW11. He left teaching to become an M.P., Home Secretary and finally a Baron. He had a police post built on the rear of his garage and, much to the concern of his police guard, could be seen most Sunday mornings cutting his front lawn wearing his old wartime KD shorts and a T-shirt. He was known to all and sundry by his first name. No frills there.
