Customs of the Service
(Advice to those newly commissioned.)

by A.H.S.

Published at Aldershot, by Gale & Polden Ltd, 1939

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PREFACE

Every officer is expected to obey certain unwritten laws. There are no regulations or written instructions to assist the newly commissioned officer in most of these matters.

If he seeks guidance from those in authority over him, he usually receives the unsatisfactory reply that this is "done" or "not done" because it is the "Custom of the Service."

He is liable to make many unfortunate mistakes before he learns from experience the numerous un-written customs he is expected to comply with.

This small book is intended to assist those young officers who have been commissioned from the ranks or direct from civil life, few of whom will have had any experience of, or opportunity of studying, "Service etiquette" or "Customs of the Service."

Lectures will undoubtedly be given in these subjects at the beginning of their training, but there is so much to learn in the early days and so much to interest them, that it is not to be wondered at if the importance of this aspect of their training is not realized by the majority until it is too late.

If the advice given in the following pages is of assistance to anyone of these officers, the effort o writing this small book will not have been entirely wasted.

The author acknowledges with many thanks the help of those officers of the Army and Royal Air Force whose assistance made the publication of this small book possible.

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CONTENTS

CHAPTER I - THE OFFICERS' MESS

1.     General Purpose of the Mess
2.     Dress
3.     Behaviour and General Conduct in Mess
4.     Commanding Officer in Mess
5.     Visitors
6.     Punctuality
7.     During Working Hours
8.     Animals in Mess
9.     Conversation
10.     Alcoholic Drinks
11.     Mess Hospitality
12.     Dinner and Guest Night
13.     General Warnings

CHAPTER II - OFFICERS AND OTHER RANKS

14.     Officer's Duty to his Men
15.     In Duty Hours
16.     Off Duty
17.     Non-commissioned Officers
18.     Knowledge of Individuals
19.     Married Families
20.     Sergeants' Mess
21.     Public Bars
22.     Railway Journeys
23.     First Command
24.     Personal Example

CHAPTER III - DISCIPLINE

25.     Reasons for Saluting
26.     Saluting in Uniform
27.     Saluting in Plain Clothes
28.     Discipline off Duty
29.     Punishment of Other Ranks
30.     Married Officers

Sections Not Included:

Chapter IV - Social Responsibilities
Chapter V - Their Majesties’ Courts and Other Ceremonies
Chapter VI - Relative Ranks in the Three Services

CHAPTER VII - FINAL ADVICE

70.     When in Doubt, Ask
71.     Progress by Merit
72.     In Conclusion