Messes and Mess Dinners

The Officers' Mess
"There is probably no subject more imposing to the new officer, or more clouded in the mysteries of implied traditions and expectations, than the Officers' Mess."

Mess Dinners
"The following provides a guide to the general procedures for mess dinners. Tradition may produce variation …"

Mess Dinners; Advice for Subaltern Organizers of
So, you were moving when you should have been covering and you've been cornered by the CO or the Adjutant with those infamous words, "We'd like you to run the upcoming Mess Dinner."

In the Officers' Mess, by Alden Nowlan "The cellophane-wrapped young technocrats, most of them graduates in engineering, have had one beer each, have applauded the old general with the fingertips of one hand …"

Entre nous … (1951)
… any young officer can eat three helpings of all courses and still leave the table hungry, there is always the possibility that you may be dining with civilians whose education may not be so advanced as to include this knowledge.

Staff Duties

Staff Duties and the Young Officer
" The line officer despises the lowly "staff officer," and rues the day he might become one himself."

How to Write Effective English
"It is a matter of fact that most writing done by Staff Officers falls short of the required standard…"

Notes and Quotes - Staff Duties

The Senior Subaltern
"… it includes such responsibilities as advising younger officers on duties and social responsibilities …"

Advice to Officers (1782)
"A Major, for instance, will probably enjoy every Chapter except that addressed to officers of his own rank, which he will not relish at all."

The Young Officer's Guide to Knowledge (1915)
"… contains everything essential for a young officer …"

An Open Letter to the Very Young Officer (1917)
"In the Old Army the great majority of the officers were drawn from the … combative … genus..."

The RCR, "A" Company Standing Orders - Officers (1918)
"All Officers in reporting will acquaint themselves with all orders; General, Command, Battalion and Company, also with the Officers Mess Rules …"

An Officer's Code (1925)
"His Majesty the King has done me the honour of conferring upon me a Commission as an Officer. This is the greatest honour that can be conferred upon any man."

RCSI Hints for Young Officers (1931)
"The hints contained in this pamphlet are not intended to cast the least reflection on the behaviour of officers – rather are they intended to be of assistance …"

RCSI Notes on Drill (1931)
"Drill is necessary in every branch of the service."

Customs of the Service (1939)
"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."

The Officer and Fighting Efficiency (1940)
"The immediate responsibility for the care and preparation of men for battle rests on the shoulders of the junior commander …"

Comrades in Arms (1942)
"Three Talks to Junior Officers or Officer Cadets to assist them in the handling of their men."

Hints for Newly Commissioned Officers (1943)
"… adapted from a pamphlet produced by The Infantry School and distributed to all Officer Candidates upon completion of their training."

Hints for Junior Officers (1945)
How often in our lives have we, as officers, been faced with dreadful moments of uncertainty …

Customs of the Army (1956)
"This pamphlet is intended to give an Officer Cadet about to be commissioned an idea of some of the things to look out for on joining his regiment or corps."

1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, Senior Subaltern (1956)
"To assist the Senior Subaltern in his duties the following is a guide for his terms of reference."

How to be a Successful Subaltern (1978)
The successful subaltern, on promotion, is perfectly placed to mount an effective assault on the somewhat tedious middle ranks of Captain, …

The RCR Regimental Standing Orders - Senior Subaltern (1992)
"The subaltern appointed unit Senior Subaltern will have status immediately following that of the junior Captain though he may not be the senior subaltern by virtue of time in rank."

A Miscellany of Advice for Subalterns

The Young Officer and the NCO - Quotes