A Message From The Queen.

[Jock Scot]

An example, A Lieutenant RN is equal to, but senior, to an Army Captain who is equal, but senior, to a Flight Lieutenant of the RAF assuming no one is actually in command of a situation which could be the fellow in the RAF flying the aeroplane.It would not matter one bit if an Admiral was a passenger, the pilot of whatever rank is in command of the aircraft. A Commander RN(three thick stripes on the sleeve) is equal, but senior, to an Army Lt. Colonel. At least it was that way in my day too many years ago. The Royal Navy is the Senior Service and the Royal Air Force for no other reason than it is the youngest, is the Junior service.

Interestingly a Major(for example) of Royal Marines when ashore in an action situation usually by tradition(not by right) rises by one rank. This situation sadly did not take place at Bluff Cove in the Falklands where the Royal Marine Major advised(correctly) getting the troops off the troop transport before the stores, the CO(senior to the RM Major) of the Welsh Guards thought otherwise and sadly, with the benefit of hindsight, he was proved disastrously wrong.

[Pleater]

That scene in 'Zulu' just came to mind - where the two officers sort out who is the senior, and therefor in command, by the date their commission was Gazetted.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Jock Scot]

That scene in 'Zulu' just came to mind - where the two officers sort out who is the senior, and therefor in command, by the date their commission was Gazetted.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

Quite right as they were both in the army, that could happen to two RN, or RAF Officers of the same rank. Although it would be advisable for the Officers in question to consider carefully each other's particular skills for the particular situation.

[Mike_Oettle]

Jock Scot wrote: “. . . it would be advisable for the Officers in question to consider carefully each other's particular skills for the particular situation.”

While that would be the wisest course, it is not always followed.

In South Africa, the seniority of the services is reversed, since the army is the oldest service, next the air force, and lastly the navy.
Despite that position, the South African Air Force is the world’s second oldest, with only the RAF being older.
However, unlike the RAF, it was formed solely out of the army, hence the use (still) of army ranks and (until the 1950s) of khaki uniforms.
So unlike the air forces of the other Commonwealth nations (mostly modelled on the RAF but all younger than the SAAF) it does not have squadron leaders, wing commanders and air marshals.
Zimbabwe, ironically, still has such officers, although I would not have much respect for a Zimbabwean air marshal (unless I was under arrest by his Air Police!).
Regards,
Mike

[macwilkin]

Zimbabwe, ironically, still has such officers, although I would not have much respect for a Zimbabwean air marshal (unless I was under arrest by his Air Police!).

Yes, they've fallen far from the days of "Green Leader"...



T.

[JerseyLawyer]

Quite right as they were both in the army, that could happen to two RN, or RAF Officers of the same rank. Although it would be advisable for the Officers in question to consider carefully each other's particular skills for the particular situation.

And, of course, Zulu raised the interesting issue that an Officer of Engineers is considered to be a line officer, not a staff officer. Although I suppose since the Zulu Wars took place after the Cardwell reforms, the until-then-recent distinction between Engineers being promoted by seniority and Regimental Officers purchasing their commissions would no longer have appertained.

Sorry... I'll let you get back to the rest of the discussion now.

But since we're talking about Zulu... ith:

[Arlen]

Back on the subject, this made me tear up just a little.
I'm relatively quiet about my respect for Her Majesty, but she truly means a very great deal to me and I would not hesitate to serve Queen and Country.

It was a little bittersweet since I am very homesick today.

[BoldHighlander]

It is a wonderful story, and only adds to the great respect I already have for her.

Thanks for posting it.

[Curly]

To quote the Cajunscot...."We could do with more leaders such as her." Hoorah!!