". . . retaining the rank of . . ." - what is its significance ?

[HughAHalliday]

As I troll the London Gazette to fill in details of officers, I often encounter, upon their retirement, a phrase such as "Retired as Flight Lieutenant, retaining the rank of Squadron Leader" or variations - "retaining the rank of Wing Commander", etc. This appears to me that it is acknowledgement that sometime in their career they temporarily held a rank higher than their final rank. Am I correct ? And what does it entail anyway ? The right to wear uniforms with their older, superior rank on Remembrance Day parades ? The right to print the higher rank on their business or calling cards ? I would imagine that it does NOT entail added pension benefits. Please, may someone elucidate ?

[paulmcmillan]

My understanding is that only ranks above and including Sqn Ldr could be used by individuals who had left the service

Some people got temp ranks (war substantive) above there official ranks and reverted to original last official rank on war ending or completion of service = this is recognition that they held a higher rank at some point and thus could use it for various reasons post war including what you list

So Flt Lt John Doe may have been Sqn Ldr (war subs) or even Temp Sqn Ldr John Doe and reverted back to Flt Lt

and when he retired or relinquished would have been a Flt Lt but was permitted to use the Rank Sqn Ldr on his calling cards etc

Occasionally I think on retirement some people were actually also given an official higher rank

I expect someone here will correct me..

[paulmcmillan]

I see a number of Flt Lt (ret) but my understanding is that rank could not be used

[paulmcmillan]

PS this was a right that could be taken away - So if you were say sentenced by a Criminal Court post service the right to use the Rank could be taken away

[Ross_McNeill]

Post #6 on this thread is what is in KR&ACI

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...-Commissioning

Ross

[Franek Grabowski]

That is it! I wonder what is the difference between Acting and Temporary ranks. Just a different word or some deeper meaning behind it?
Franek

[malcolm_raf]

Hi Franek

According the Air Force List a temporary rank is made to fill a post on a temporary wartime establishment, so is semi substantive and the holder does not revert to his substantive rank on posting, however, an acting rank is made to fill a vacant post on a unit and if the holder was posted to another unit, they would revert to their substantive (or temporary) rank.

War Substantive promotions appear to have been made after an officer had held an acting rank for six months so a Flt Lt, acting Wg Cdr would be promoted to Sqn Ldr (WS) after six months, and later may then be promoted to Temp Sqn Ldr, act Wg Cdr.

When I resigned my commission it was as a Fg Off retaining Flt Lt, which was the highest acting rank I held in service.

Malcolm

[PNK]

Did the rules change post war as I seem to recall from somewhere (ORBs?) that those who opted to stay on in the RAF would drop down a rank. Was this because many were promoted to keep the hierarchy intact during the war? Or was it in recognition of the early war beef that many long serving RAF officers who had worked hard to attain their ranks in the thirties were often overtaken by the new kids serving only months?

[bvs]

Moved to next page to accompany post #11

[malcolm_raf]

Basically if retained post-war officers generally reverted to their substantive rank, which could be one, two or even three ranks below any acting or temporary rank held.

Malcolm