"An Officer should be comely, spratly and above all else, confident in his own dress and bearing.
He should, where possible, eat a small piece of meat each morning with molasses and beans.
He should air himself gracefully when under fire and never place himself in a position of difficulty when being shot at.
He should eat his meals comfortably and ahead of his soldiers, for it is he who is more important tactically on the battlefield and therefore he who should be well nourished.
His hair should be well groomed and if possible he should adorn a moustashe or similar facial adornment.
When speaking to his soldiers he should appear unnerved and aloof and give direction without in any way involving himself in the execution of arduous or unofficer like duties.
He should smoke thin pantellas except when in the company of ladies when he should take only a small gin mixed with lemon tea.
He should be an ardent and erudite gentleman and woo the ladies both in the formal environment and in the bedroom where he should excel himself beyond the ordinary soldier with his virulent love making prowess.
These I say to you are the qualities of an Officer that set him apart from the lay person and the common soldier"
Lieutenant General Hubert Worthington
Commander In Chief
5th Royal Indian Mountain Division
Bombay
12 December, 1907
And to think this guy was serious.
ReplyDeleteLOL
Just goes to show you should use care in what you write down. :-)
dafrca
And why shouldn't he be serious about such serious matters my good man? Empires are won and lost on such issues! :-D
ReplyDeleteYes, such issues may win or loose Empires, but that is not what was so funny.
ReplyDeleteAs any real man knows it is not the Officers with their illusions of grandeur that keeps the Empire safe. Rather it is the level headed, strong willed, wise, Senior Non-Coms that do all the real work and keep the Empire strong and safe.
dafrca
Ooooppps forgot the :-)
ReplyDeleteWithout feathery hats and a Gin and Tonic there would not be an Empire worth saving my friend!
ReplyDelete:-D