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