discomog wrote:

Yes what a brilliant achievement and wish him well for his 100th Birthday. He was born in the same year as my father and served in the same regiment in India and Burma.

(As an aside, I was under the impression that only the rank of major and above were allowed to use their titled rank when retired from the army with the exception of cavalry regiments who were allowed to use captain and above). Maybe some of our ex military members could put me straight on this.

This question does not in any way diminish the achievement of Thomas Moore - again well done.

Actually, according to Queen’s Regulations and Debrett’s, any retired officer of substantive rank Captain or above, can use their title in retirement. However, ‘tradition’ was those who were substantive Major and above (or Captain’s who were Field Officers, for example an Adjutant) would use their title. But that tradition was some years ago, and these days I’d suggest you would really be Brigadier or above if you continued using your title. Possibly Major General. The exception might be if you continue to work (in a civilian capacity) in a Military environment, such as the MOD, or if you work in a world with numerous ex-military personnel, such as private security. I left with the right to use my rank, but never do. I have friends who left as full Colonels and don’t use their rank.

For those who were wondering what Substantive rank means, it is a permanent rank that affords pay and seniority. You can be given ‘Local’ rank (I.e. you are a Captain, doing a Major’s role, such as Company Commander, and so are called Major - and allowed to wear the correct insignia - but are neither paid as one nor hold seniority. Local is normally given to a short term post during non operational environments. 6mths covering illness etc. Acting is a rank that gets pay, but not seniority. I.e. you fill a role that requires a certain rank, you are called by that rank - and wear insignia - and you are paid by that rank. But, within that rank - Major, if using the example above - you will be Junior to ALL substantive Majors even if any of those Majors were actually promoted after you. You only gain seniority if you stay in post two years. Acting rank is more commonly used for a permanent post - when for example a junior rank fills the senior rank because there are NO others within that rank who can do the job until the ‘acting’ solider actually picks up substantive rank in position, maybe requiring attending a course. Alternatively it is given when on operations, as ‘Local’ rank is not eligible during operations. I was promoted ‘in-country’ during my tour of Iraq, therefore held the higher ‘Acting’ rank, so benefited from pay as well. .

Finally, a bit of trivia. Many people ask why a Major General (Two Star general in American parlance) is junior to a Lieutenant General (Three Star General) when it is the reverse in their junior ranks, I.e. a Lieutenant is junior to a Major. It is because when the rank was formed, it was actually ‘Sergeant Major General’, a Sergeant Major being junior to a lieutenant. But it was such a mouthful, the Sergeant nomination was dropped. Additionally, Brigadier, (US - One Star General) was once referred to as Brigadier General (Americans still do) but was stopped and referred to only as Brigadier, as within the British Army it is considered a Field Appointment, (Ranks between Major and Brigadier, plus certain Captains) whilst General ranks are Divisional appointments. Hence the reason that whilst it relates to a US One Star rank, British Brigadiers do NOT wear the insignia of a crossed Baton and Sword as used by General rankings.

PS, Captain Tom is how he is referred to by friends and family.  Monsieur Le Grenadier

I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list.....

2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey

blackwolf wrote:

Just Giving has apparently waived all its fees for this particular case, which I thought was a decent gesture.

Good to hear!  02' 110 TD5 Double Cab Rebuild Thread