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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Proper addressing?


deadin

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What would be the proper form of "address" for a Doctor in the RAMC with the rank of Captain with degrees in Medicine and Surgery that was awarded a M.C. and a MID?

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He shoud be called by his Army rank: Captain.

RAMC officers (other than quartermasters) were all medically qualified so "doctor" would be unnecessary. In fact, most of them were bachelors of medicine and surgery and so only entitled to call themselves "doctor" by courtesy. Very few held actual doctorate degrees.

Ron

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I am thinking that the OP's question related to the written form of address as opposed to verbal address, otherwise the MC & MID plus medical degree's would have no relevance in verbal communication???

khaki

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Thanks khaki! That's what I was looking for..

And yes, it was the written form as I want to label a picture of a Doctor I am researching.

Dean

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I'm not sure if I'm extending the original question or hijacking it lightly. I have always been curious about the use of degrees and memberships of professional bodies with military rank.

I seem to remember that the initials of a musical professional body used to follow the military rank and name of the director of music of the Coldstream? Guards in the credits at the end of Dad's Army. Also I have seen the initials of engineering professional bodies appearing after the names and ranks of naval officers occasionally.

RM

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I am only guessing, that where earned degrees have relevance to an assignment title within the military they may well be used, such as with the director of music, but in terms of military rank within the overall structure of the military I would say not,

khaki

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Medical officers in the Navy List were listed M.B., M.D. or whatever as appropriate.

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Medical officers in the Navy List were listed M.B., M.D. or whatever as appropriate.

That's interesting. I saw the engineering post-nominals after officers' names at the Naval Club.

RM

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Its a minefield and I am not a trained minefield negotiator but I think that, for complicated cases, the correct order is

military rank

clerical rank

nobility rank

orders

decorations

professional post nominals

such as Major The Reverend Lord Snooty DSO MD RFC [Retd]

complications such as MP and/ or Privy Council are beyond my ken.

I would be grateful to be either corrected or referred to a knowledgeable source: tried Debrett but it loses me!

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It might be useful to see how the Corp address them.

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How they were addressed face to face would be dependent on who was addressing them, for service personnel in exactly the same way as any other regiment or corps. Civilians could call them what they wanted, usually doctor. In my day depending on the posting much of the time O/R's and officers drank together so first name terms when out of uniform or when in like company were common.

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