Hello Rena, I don't think that the same still applies, but it used to be that when an army officer retired, he was promoted by one rank. This could explain why Kenneth Mackay, who did not rise higher than a lieutenant during his army career, was later referred to as "Captain". This system of promotion upon retirement explains why there used to be so many retired colonels around. Lots of men were obliged to retire when they were majors and, upon retirement, became lieutenant colonel - the gouty old fellows often referred to in cartoons etc. :o) Sage was not the only one who was inconsistent in his spelling of CLUNES; I have come across Cluness, Clunas, Clunis and Clunise! Lyndall ----- Original Message ----- Yesterday's quote on John and Kenneth Mackay from Mem. Dom. illustrated this question on military titles and honorifics. Sage wrote the Kenneth Mackay did not rise higher than lieutenant during his army career, yet refers to him as "captain." Can anyone explain why? Sage also mentioned a Colonel Cluness and a Captain Cluness. Does anyone know whether these are two different men, or simply different honorifics? (I also should mention that Sage was inconsistent in his spelling. Cluness, as an example, was spelled both "Cluness" and "Clunes". His spelling of Gaelic words or place names was even more variable.) Rena
Hi Lyndall, Thank you for this answer on military titles. I was, of course, leaping ahead of myself in wondering whether Colonel and Captain Cluness were the same man. The answer is revealed in an upcoming chapter of Mem. Dom. Stay tuned. Rena >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Original Message <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< On 4/16/2001, 4:07:43 AM, "Lyndall" <lyfrah@goldweb.com.au> wrote regarding Re: A Question on Military Titles or Honorifics: > Hello Rena, > I don't think that the same still applies, but it used to > be that when an army officer retired, he was promoted by one rank. This > could explain why Kenneth Mackay, who did not rise higher than a lieutenant > during his army career, was later referred to as "Captain". > This system of promotion upon retirement explains why there used to be so > many retired colonels around. Lots of men were obliged to retire when they > were majors and, upon retirement, became lieutenant colonel - the gouty old > fellows often referred to in cartoons etc. :o) > Sage was not the only one who was inconsistent in his spelling of CLUNES; I > have come across Cluness, Clunas, Clunis and Clunise! > Lyndall > ----- Original Message ----- > Yesterday's quote on John and Kenneth Mackay from Mem. Dom. illustrated > this question on military titles and honorifics. > Sage wrote the Kenneth Mackay did not rise higher than lieutenant during > his army career, yet refers to him as "captain." Can anyone explain why? > Sage also mentioned a Colonel Cluness and a Captain Cluness. Does anyone > know whether these are two different men, or simply different honorifics? > (I also should mention that Sage was inconsistent in his spelling. > Cluness, as an example, was spelled both "Cluness" and "Clunes". His > spelling of Gaelic words or place names was even more variable.) > Rena > ==== SCT-SUTHERLAND Mailing List ==== > You may, at times, wish to check out previous messages to this list. You can do this at http://archiver.rootsweb.com/SCT-SUTHERLAND-L/ > ============================== > Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 > Source for Family History Online. Go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/subscribe/subscribetrial1y.asp?sourcecode=F11HB