Wednesday, November 11, 2009

LEST WE FORGET

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.


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6 comments:

  1. Moving picture of the young UK and Australian VC winners placing HM's wreath...

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  2. Since when have Governor Generals dressed in Service uniform? Seems to be a rather strange departure form the normal custom, especially (as far as I am aware) HE has never actually served in the Armed Forces.

    Great picture of the two VC winners laying a wreath on the tomb of the unknown warrior at Westminster Abbey!

    Mac

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  3. Governors-General are entitled to wear the uniform since they act as the local commander-in-chief. Although the practice is less and less, it is still done at the governor-general's discretion.

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  4. By the way, the Prince of Wales wore the uniform of a Canadian Lieutenant-General, yet he was still saluted by the Chief of Defense Staff, who is a full General. Even though Royalty has its rank, technically the lower rank should always salute the higher rank. For example, I doubt very much that the Air Marshall of the Royal Air Force would salute Captain Wales, RAF, because he's royalty and third in line to the throne. Royals are still required to follow the rank structure.

    And yes, the Governor Governor General outranks the Prince of Wales, the vice-regal outranks the heir to the throne because it is the vice-regal who is the local Commander-in-Chief and who represents the Queen.

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  5. Dear Beaverbrook,

    Thanks for your reply. I see the new Canadian GG's site actually specifically mentions the wearing of Service uniforms. I was aware of past practise for serving GG's to wear uniforms, but I had always assumed that they had actually been active service members in the past.

    Perhaps I just like the idea of a non-military Commander-in-Chief, makes a nice contrast to tin pot dictators showing up in dress uniforms!

    As for the CDS saluting the Prince, technically tou are correct - perhaps the Prince was saluted as on this visit he was acting in Place of HM?

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  6. When Her Majesty wore a uniform to her birthday parade, she only wore the insignia of a colonel. I don't imagine there were any generals who would have presumed to pull rank on the Queen.

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