Rank peculiar to regiment

She really was an interferring old cow wasn't she? One of the Royal Signals Colonel's in Chief used to be a right bitch too. Before my time but I believe instead of just inspecting the troops with a nod and a smile, she used to do it properly. Some say and I don't know how true it is that she even checked to see if they were wearing regulation underpants?

Shades of carry on up the Khyber. Dirty old woman. Is that an aerial or are you just pleased to see me?

Teabag wrote:

She really was an interfering old cow wasn't she? One of the Royal Signals Colonel's in Chief used to be a right bitch too. Before my time but I believe instead of just inspecting the troops with a nod and a smile, she used to do it properly. Some say and I don't know how true it is that she even checked to see if they were wearing regulation underpants?

Shades of carry on up the Khyber. Dirty old woman. Is that an aerial or are you just pleased to see me?

I think you're referring to the Col. in Chief (Princes Royal) prior to Princess Ann. She was King Georges sister I believe. I was on her last parade for RC Sigs in Vimy Barracks, Kingston Ontario in June 62. They were absolutely terrified of the woman. They had a secretary who was English fill in on the rehearsal and give a speech. All the windows in the barracks around the parade square were opened to help prevent echo. The School Commandant had tailored T.W.'s from the U.K. which got shoe polish on them from his Sam Brown and sword frog in one rehearsal so had to wear an older set. Apparently she knew her medals, what order to wear them in, all sorts of military parade stuff, etc. At the officers mess reception I heard if she drank gin, every body drank gin. When she did her parade, she reviewed us from a modified jeep that had just come from a parade in Gagetown for the Black Watch with the Queen mother. I guess we got off lightly. I also heard that she had a bad marriage, her husband was reputed to be gay.

(And yes I know how the shoe polish got on. After the Chief instructor and Adutant gave me poop. The RSM (bless his soul) told the rest of the officers trying to make brownie points to , " f**k off, as Signal Campbell had been delt with").Did I or do I feel bad about that? Not F**ken likley.

It didn't matter what unit of the Canadian Army you were in, you always heard countless legends about the old girl and the goings-on at Vimy Barracks (RC Sigs School) whenever she popped in to pay her respects.

One that I've heard many times was the allegation that the "Jimmys" would be out sweeping the provincial highway that ran by the barracks with stable brooms in anticipation of her arrival. Also that she wasn't shy about saying: "Take that man's name!" Granted I heard most of them from an old school friend of mine who was at the RCEME school just across the highway so perhaps there was an ounce or two of embellishment.

Oh, and about that Black Watch jeep: Glad we were able to help!

Sorry, I'm drifting farther away from BAOR here.

The sweeping is true, and it was done by the C.B.'ers. on a regular basis at least to the hwy. And I would imagine on the hwy in anticipation of the old gal's arrival. There was also a story going around that the Jimmy statue at the main gate had his tali-whacker trimmed down as the Colonels wife felt it was to prominent. Knowing how things were run in those days, it just might be true.

Shelldrake wrote:

Recce, I can vouch for the fact that the the Yeomen Wardens have a very well appointed Mess within the Tower, if I am summoned first I will get them in. As to why the Brigade of Guards wear red and black chevrons, I have no idea, perhaps it's aesthetically pleasing.

You'll be OK in The Tower's mess, Barry Sanderson'll look after you, (if he hasn't been drummed out of course !).

You never know, he might get a round in, (no, that's silly).

Brum, if Barry is still there he would be the oldest Beefeater in Town - he must be 75 if he's a day.

Not true Dan,

It's Conductor RLC, previously Conducter RAOC and even more previously Conducter RASC

See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conductor_(British_Army)

Shelldrake wrote:
Recce, I can vouch for the fact that the the Yeomen Wardens have a very well appointed Mess within the Tower, if I am summoned first I will get them in. As to why the Brigade of Guards wear red and black chevrons, I have no idea, perhaps it's aesthetically pleasing.

You'll be OK in The Tower's mess, Barry Sanderson'll look after you, (if he hasn't been drummed out of course !).

You never know, he might get a round in, (no, that's silly).

This chap is a former Royal Signals Junior Leader graduating Aug 66 finished service as SSM and now has a job for life
http://spitalfieldslife.com/2010/11/18/john-keohane-chief-yeoman-warder-of-the-tower-of-london/

Shelldrake wrote:

Brum, if Barry is still there he would be the oldest Beefeater in Town - he must be 75 if he's a day.

I thought the old buggers were allowed to "die in harness".

Oh well, he'll be organising the Bingo round at the Royal Hospital then !

This chap is a former Royal Signals Junior Leader graduating Aug 66 finished service as SSM and now has a job for life
http://spitalfieldslife.com/2010/11/18/john-keohane-chief-yeoman-warder-of-the-tower-of-london/[/quote]


Thanks Steve.

Very interesting site, Brum. Thanks for sharing.

Dolmetscher wrote:

Very interesting site, Brum. Thanks for sharing.

That was from Steve mate.

[quote="brum"]

Shelldrake wrote:

Brum, if Barry is still there he would be the oldest Beefeater in Town - he must be 75 if he's a day.

I thought the old buggers were allowed to "die in harness".

Oh well, he'll be organising the Bingo round at the Royal Hospital then ![/quote


He'll be looking after those new Female recruits, no doubt!

gallahad wrote:

brum wrote:

I've just been watching the beginning of the movie "Ice cold in Alex".

In the opening titles Harry Andrews is cast as a "MSM" and he wears the RSM's coat of arms.

Can any of you RASC/RCT blokes tell me what "MSM" stands for ?

Did you also notice towards the very end of the movie when the MP's were driving away the prisoner, that there was a Land Rover (looks like a Mk 9 ) parked on the square?

"Ice Cold in Alex" was on again yesterday, (constant repeats on the Freeview channels).

I ran through it to the end and there it was, a Landrover. You don't miss much, gallahad !

I would've thought that it was an earlier model than a Mk 9 though, the movie was made in '58.

Just to toss a spanner in the works... my mother was a Subaltern in the ATS ~ the equivalent of Lieutenant on the blokes' side ~ and kept the rank whilst in the CCG.

brum wrote:

gallahad wrote:

brum wrote:

I've just been watching the beginning of the movie "Ice cold in Alex".

In the opening titles Harry Andrews is cast as a "MSM" and he wears the RSM's coat of arms.

Can any of you RASC/RCT blokes tell me what "MSM" stands for ?

My Stripes Missing

Did you also notice towards the very end of the movie when the MP's were driving away the prisoner, that there was a Land Rover (looks like a Mk 9 ) parked on the square?

"Ice Cold in Alex" was on again yesterday, (constant repeats on the Freeview channels).

I ran through it to the end and there it was, a Landrover. You don't miss much, gallahad !

I would've thought that it was an earlier model than a Mk 9 though, the movie was made in '58.

I remember watching "The Hill" and noticed that all the rank badges were on the opposite arm, could they have put the film in the wrong way round. Anyone who has done the 16/32mm Projectionist Course at AKC Minden throw any light on this?

Don`t know about film Shelldrake but newspapers often print mirror images of photos..Very noticable when medals or ribbons are in view.I once brought it to the attention of the editor of the Daily Record and was politely told to eff off

GJP wrote:

Just to toss a spanner in the works... my mother was a Subaltern in the ATS ~ the equivalent of Lieutenant on the blokes' side ~ and kept the rank whilst in the CCG.

CCG? and we called 2nd lieutenants subalterns in the Infantry and maybe other corps as well

jim wrote:

GJP wrote:

Just to toss a spanner in the works... my mother was a Subaltern in the ATS ~ the equivalent of Lieutenant on the blokes' side ~ and kept the rank whilst in the CCG.

CCG? and we called 2nd lieutenants subalterns in the Infantry and maybe other corps as well

A certain Corporal at 6 Ord (I won't even mention the Company he was in as I doubt he heard the last of it for the 3 years I was in that Bn...) told a young 2nd Lt that as an Insubordinate he was Orderly Officer more often than the WOs and Lts - Oh how we laughed at the quizzical look on the Leftenants face and bewilderment of the aforementioned Cpl as he could not understand what was so funny.

Should the thread not be titled "peculiar regiments that even had ranks"?

Themaadone wrote:

Should the thread not be titled "peculiar regiments that even had ranks"?

give list of peculiar regiments........be careful now

Shelldrake wrote:

I remember watching "The Hill" and noticed that all the rank badges were on the opposite arm, could they have put the film in the wrong way round. Anyone who has done the 16/32mm Projectionist Course at AKC Minden throw any light on this?

Doesn't seem to be a projector loading error. I wonder if this is not peculiar to the Military Provost Staff. Looking at the movie, the MO's eye chart and the sign on his door are ok. Also the medal ribbons and the Sam Browne are worn appropriately by the RSM.

Interesting, I had a couple of "Friends" in the MPSC, their rank badges were worn on the right arm. Maybe the researchers didn't do their homework.

I did an escort to Colchester in 70 and rank badges were on right sleeve