Grey Funnel forms of address

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Gunfleet

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When and why do present or past members of Grey Funnel Lines add R.N.after their names? Actually I can imagine why is so the rest of know they were once her madge's matelots... what I really wanted was the tour de raison, as I believe it's called.
 
Dunno but it sounds like a good idea.

So in future I want you lot to address me as

Albert Hall stoker 1st class of Her Britannic Majesties Imperial Royal Navy pox and bar GSM (borneo) ET1 & JSC (25 yds breaststroke)

Thank you.


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[ QUOTE ]
GSM (borneo)

[/ QUOTE ]
I have GPRS (poland) - does that count?
 
Dear Uncle Albert Hall stoker 1st class of Her Britannic Majesties Imperial Royal Navy pox and bar GSM (borneo) ET1 & JSC (25 yds breaststroke),
You missed (ret)
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I was an OD scribe in '49 - I suppose that makes me great grandfather - I am anyway - ex RN and RNSR
 
I can\'t get over it (sob)

Does this mean you don't know either? I don't want a blue flag hanging orf the taffrail, I don't want to sign myself Gunfleet R.N. I don't even want to order new stationery. I just want to know when and why they do.
 
Re: I can\'t get over it (sob)

Listen, bilbo... I've worked it out. That picture by your name, that's your best girlfriend, isn't it? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
Its quite simple !!
Those of us that served should relish in it !!!
The rest of you who now benefit from the millions of people that sacrificed their lives - wind your necks in !!!!
 
Officers of RN use the letters RN after their name when their rank is used as a prefix - hence Lt A Smoth RN. This shows that he is a member of the elite rather than somebody who walks to their battle. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

An officer does not leave the RN until he dies, but is moved from the active list, to the retired list when he "retires"

For example I retired after 30 years servive at the age of 50, but was still liable for recall until last year.
 
Ah Talbot, you're an officer and a gentleman. Thank you for providing the first non-dotty answer. May your retirement last another 50 years. You might as well get your money's worth out of the pension.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Ah Talbot, you're an officer and a gentleman. Thank you for providing the first non-dotty answer. May your retirement last another 50 years. You might as well get your money's worth out of the pension.

[/ QUOTE ]A strong tradition has it that Naval Officers have only just got 'and a gentleman' (in other words 'gentlemen status' back. Something about upsetting Queen Victoria is what I was told... Perhaps someone will have the proper dit.
 
There's also the saying that the RN is full of gentlemen wanting to be officers and the MN is full of officers wanting to be gentlemen...
 
Yes JM it seems Queen Vic got a bit miffed when during her reign some naughty sailerboys were promised freedom if they turned queens evidence, which they did, but were hanged anyway.
During her protestations she called the officers involved “Pigs” and the name stuck.


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Most "people" do this when there can be confusion of the status of the rank.

A Lt will quite often add RN to make it clear that he's not a lowly Lt but that his rank actually corresponds to a captain in the army.
Same for Capt... RN - colonel in the army.

A commander would feel less "need" to do this, as commander is a navy-only rank.
 
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