keg Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 (edited) I have noticed a number of people who do this at a number of levels. Is there a reason? My father didn't after the war. Is it relevant in civilian life? Edited March 27, 2014 by keg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 My dear old grandfather did and was proud of it. Good old Granddad Obersturmbannführer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muddy Funker Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 I imagine it's because some peoples egos can't handle the fact they were a somebody in the military and they're now a nobody in the civilian world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sako751sg Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 Its always been such and they are entitled to use their rank if captain and above i think it is.Dont see any harm in it although some do like to try it on to boost their ego a wee bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntsman Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 and why not ol'chap the problem I have is older ex military types having handle bar moustaches and twirling the ends,whilst talking to you very annoying :no: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 (edited) It is generally accepted that Major and above can be used after retirement,there are some lower ranks used in certain instances. http://www.debretts.com/forms-address/professions/armed-forces/army/retired-and-former-officers A story, When doing guard duty one cold December night,a woman came to the gates ,she was very drunk and had no id,the day before the RSM had got the guard together and stated "no id no entry",now i knew this woman was a captains wife, and he was a tit,she was a snob,i asked for id and she then discovered she didn't have any.She argued for a while and then made the famous statement "don't you know who i am,i am Mrs Captain Smyth" i politly pointed out she had not gone to sandhurst, she did not have a commission,and what was more she was just a plain Mrs and one without id,and i walked away from the gate,she left in a huff. The next morning the Captain arrived and he was livid,asked for the person who refused to let his wife in and then started to rant at me as i stood to attention,but it was short lived as a big booming voice asked to have a word,it was the RSM.The conversation they had was very loud,mainly from the RSM tearing the Captain a new one and reminding him that the RSM was responsible for discipline and security in the camp, he had issued an order and that had been complied with,the last comment was beautifully delivered,"with respect sir your wife is a civilian a stupid one at that ,and with your reputation i think you are not far behind" I was told off by the RSM in private for not using my initiative and letting her in,you can't win sometimes. Edited March 27, 2014 by welsh1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg Posted March 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 Especially when she was in the WAAF! It was just an idle thought I had when sat on the M62 this morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg Posted March 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 It is generally accepted that Major and above can be used after retirement,there are some lower ranks used in certain instances. http://www.debretts.com/forms-address/professions/armed-forces/army/retired-and-former-officers A story, When doing guard duty one cold December night,a woman came to the gates ,she was very drunk and had no id,the day before the RSM had got the guard together and stated "no id no entry",now i knew this woman was a captains wife, and he was a tit,she was a snob,i asked for id and she then discovered she didn't have any.She argued for a while and then made the famous statement "don't you know who i am,i am Mrs Captain Smyth" i politly pointed out she had not gone to sandhurst, she did not have a commission,and what was more she was just a plain Mrs and one without id,and i walked away from the gate,she left in a huff. The next morning the Captain arrived and he was livid,asked for the person who refused to let his wife in and then started to rant at me as i stood to attention,but it was short lived as a big booming voice asked to have a word,it was the RSM.The conversation they had was very loud,mainly from the RSM tearing the Captain a new one and reminding him that the RSM was responsible for discipline and security in the camp, he had issued an order and that had been complied with,the last comment was beautifully delivered,"with respect sir your wife is a civilian a stupid one at that ,and with your reputation i think you are not far behind" I was told off by the RSM in private for not using my initiative and letting her in,you can't win sometimes. Brilliant!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masmiffy Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 In my opinion a 'military' rank is just that, for the military, once they leave they are civillian so its Mr and Mrs. I was also told that when they retire their pension is upgraded to the rank above?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ack-ack Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 My dear old grandfather did and was proud of it. Good old Granddad Obersturmbannführer. Ha ha, Was he a grammar / spelling Nazi? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashman Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 It is generally accepted that Major and above can be used after retirement,there are some lower ranks used in certain instances. http://www.debretts.com/forms-address/professions/armed-forces/army/retired-and-former-officers A story, When doing guard duty one cold December night,a woman came to the gates ,she was very drunk and had no id,the day before the RSM had got the guard together and stated "no id no entry",now i knew this woman was a captains wife, and he was a tit,she was a snob,i asked for id and she then discovered she didn't have any.She argued for a while and then made the famous statement "don't you know who i am,i am Mrs Captain Smyth" i politly pointed out she had not gone to sandhurst, she did not have a commission,and what was more she was just a plain Mrs and one without id,and i walked away from the gate,she left in a huff. The next morning the Captain arrived and he was livid,asked for the person who refused to let his wife in and then started to rant at me as i stood to attention,but it was short lived as a big booming voice asked to have a word,it was the RSM.The conversation they had was very loud,mainly from the RSM tearing the Captain a new one and reminding him that the RSM was responsible for discipline and security in the camp, he had issued an order and that had been complied with,the last comment was beautifully delivered,"with respect sir your wife is a civilian a stupid one at that ,and with your reputation i think you are not far behind" I was told off by the RSM in private for not using my initiative and letting her in,you can't win sometimes. Who says chivalry is dead? Turned away a woman in need of assistance on a cold dark night. That's a story to tell the grand kids... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
overandunder2012 Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 My dear old grandfather did and was proud of it. Good old Granddad Obersturmbannführer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artschool Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 My dear old grandfather did and was proud of it. Good old Granddad Obersturmbannführer. my sides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 Was he a grammar / spelling Nazi? Nah, just following orders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aris Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 All these retired military people all seem to live in Kent, and write snooty letters to the editor of the Daily Mail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg Posted March 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 Nah, just following orders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 I was also told that when they retire their pension is upgraded to the rank above?? You were misinformed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 Who says chivalry is dead? Turned away a woman in need of assistance on a cold dark night. That's a story to tell the grand kids... You have probably never had to stag on and be abused by drunken squaddies and even worse the spawn that are pads wifes,they are evil when drunk and will abuse you something awful,they live in a military bubble where life is far far away from what civilians get up to. If you had been put in charge of a camp gate that was a target for terrorist attack and been told no id no entry, then had a drunken stuck up wife who knew she had to have id to get in as the letter sent to all quarters in the garrison informed them of the fact,but because she thought she was special and it didn't apply to her she could abuse me and tell me she would have me jailed because she could not comply with an order,you would still let her in. i don't think so. And a few months later terrorists did get into the camp and blew part of an accommodation block up,they didn't try the front gate as they knew that soldiers doing the guard duty were switched on and if you didn't have id you didn't get in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 My dad never used his rank after being demobbed but he used it occasionally, when asking for a mortgage for example - he was proud of his service and the rank of captain was hard won at 22 and he felt it showed he was "an officer and a gentleman", and thus trustworthy. I agree with his view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 My dad never used his rank after being demobbed but he used it occasionally, when asking for a mortgage for example - he was proud of his service and the rank of captain was hard won at 22 and he felt it showed he was "an officer and a gentleman", and thus trustworthy. I agree with his view. Fair play to him to be honest. I don't have an issue with it, after all, Fawlty Towers wouldn't been the same without The Colonel, and let us not forget Captain Peacock from Are you Being Served? On a serious note , older people in this country struggle enough to have an identity sometimes, and if a retired officer is proud of his service and wants to use his rank in social life, at the Rotary Club etc, then fair enough I say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickS Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 It is a courtesy title that is earned as a senior officer. Is it anyone being referred to as Doctor, Sir, Lady, or Reverend? Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunman Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 In the late 60's a very nice ex-military gentleman who was taken on by a Birmingham company as a sales manager. Poking around on the factory floor he was challenged by a shop hand as to what he was doing , I'm Coronel James the new sales manager , and you are ? he asked . Leading seaman Hugh's came the reply now **** off . Rank was never used again . [ names changed but L/S Hugh's was a good friend and a good teacher to a young apprentice ] ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebarrels Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 Ha ha, Was he a grammar / spelling Nazi? BB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootingman Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 In the late 60's a very nice ex-military gentleman who was taken on by a Birmingham company as a sales manager. Poking around on the factory floor he was challenged by a shop hand as to what he was doing , I'm Coronel James the new sales manager , and you are ? he asked . Leading seaman Hugh's came the reply now **** off . Rank was never used again . [ names changed but L/S Hugh's was a good friend and a good teacher to a young apprentice ] ] Love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAMMER BURT Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 my dad served for 35 years in the RAF,nobody in the village even new he was in the forces untill he died and my mum got him a head stone marked with the RAF squardron number on it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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