I understand that the military rank of Rear Admiral comes from the old
French word 'riergarde', derived from the adverb "riere" ('behind'). [...]
Le 08/08/2026 |a 08:24, occam a |-crit :
I understand that the military rank of Rear Admiral comes from the old
French word 'riergarde', derived from the adverb "riere" ('behind'). [...]
Hmm. I think admiral is a naval rank, not a military one (cf. the Naval
and Military Club). The Senior Service seems to dislike being called >'military':
Hibou wrote:
Hmm. I think admiral is a naval rank, not a military one (cf. the Naval
and Military Club). The Senior Service seems to dislike being called
'military':
Over here, the only place that makes that contrast is in the two
Service Academies: West Point is the United States *Military* Academy,
and Annapolis is the United States Naval Academy. The US Army is
senior to the US Navy (the Continental Army was established four
months earlier than the Continental Navy, and that navy and its
associated marine corps were disestablished after the Treaty of Paris
1783). There are, of course, still all manner of inter-service
rivalries.
Hmm. I think admiral is a naval rank, not a military one (cf. the Naval
and Military Club). The Senior Service seems to dislike being called
'military':
Over here, the only place that makes that contrast is in the two
Service Academies: West Point is the United States *Military* Academy,
and Annapolis is the United States Naval Academy.
The question is, are air forces 'military' (I mean the adjective)?
The question is, are air forces 'military' (I mean the adjective)?
Sometimes they clearly are (the RFC-|) or clearly aren't (the RNAS-# and >FAA-|). The RAF I think has to be, for want of a better or more specific >word. Military aviation etc..
I understand that the military rank of Rear Admiral comes from the old
French word 'riergarde', derived from the adverb "riere" ('behind').
The US Army is senior to the US Navy (the Continental Army was
established four months earlier than the Continental Navy
On 09/08/26 01:29, Garrett Wollman wrote:
The US Army is senior to the US Navy (the Continental Army was
established four months earlier than the Continental Navy
"Continental navy" is a strange label. Did they also have ships that
sailed on water?
Peter Moylan speculated:
On 09/08/26 01:29, Garrett Wollman wrote:
The US Army is senior to the US Navy (the Continental Army was
established four months earlier than the Continental Navy
"Continental navy" is a strange label. Did they also have ships that
sailed on water?
It's the navy of the continental population, distinguished from those who are
"visiting" from an island across the pond.
Consider that the early multi=state government was called the Continental Congress.
/dps
occam <occam@nowhere.nix> wrote:
I understand that the military rank of Rear Admiral comes from the old
French word 'riergarde', derived from the adverb "riere" ('behind').
Sure, 'arriere garde', guard of the rear.
In the day of sailing ships having only a few oil lamps on the stern
it could be difficult to keeep a fleet together at night.
The Rear Admiral was stationed behind the main force
with the task of watching for strays.
(in those long past days admirals could actually be found on ships)
BTW, false friend notice:
in France the equivalent rank is called 'contre-amiral',
like in English.
The Dutch rank 'Schout bij Nacht' makes that even clearer.
(from 'schouwen' = inspecting, and nacht = night)
As admirals go, it is just another rank
that fits somewhere in their pecking order.
He may be the highest in rank present
and actually lead the fleet into battle,
On 08/08/2026 23:55, J. J. Lodder wrote:
occam <occam@nowhere.nix> wrote:
I understand that the military rank of Rear Admiral comes from the old
French word 'riergarde', derived from the adverb "riere" ('behind').
Sure, 'arriere garde', guard of the rear.
In the day of sailing ships having only a few oil lamps on the stern
it could be difficult to keeep a fleet together at night.
The Rear Admiral was stationed behind the main force
with the task of watching for strays.
(in those long past days admirals could actually be found on ships)
BTW, false friend notice:
in France the equivalent rank is called 'contre-amiral',
like in English.
The Dutch rank 'Schout bij Nacht' makes that even clearer.
(from 'schouwen' = inspecting, and nacht = night)
Doesn't that imply that during daytime the Admiral is demoted to a non-Admiral? Like the night-watchman in a hotel reception.
On 09/08/26 01:29, Garrett Wollman wrote:
The US Army is senior to the US Navy (the Continental Army was
established four months earlier than the Continental Navy
"Continental navy" is a strange label.
Did they also have ships that sailed on water?
Le 08/08/2026 |a 16:29, Garrett Wollman a |-crit :
Hibou wrote:
Hmm. I think admiral is a naval rank, not a military one (cf. the Naval
and Military Club). The Senior Service seems to dislike being called
'military':
Over here, the only place that makes that contrast is in the two
Service Academies: West Point is the United States *Military* Academy,
and Annapolis is the United States Naval Academy. The US Army is
senior to the US Navy (the Continental Army was established four
months earlier than the Continental Navy, and that navy and its
associated marine corps were disestablished after the Treaty of Paris
1783). There are, of course, still all manner of inter-service
rivalries.
The question is, are air forces 'military' (I mean the adjective)?
Sometimes they clearly are (the RFC-|) or clearly aren't (the RNAS-# and FAA-|). The RAF I think has to be, for want of a better or more specific word. Military aviation etc..
-|Royal Flying Corps.
-#Royal Naval Air Service.
-|Fleet Air Arm.
Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> wrote:
On 09/08/26 01:29, Garrett Wollman wrote:
The US Army is senior to the US Navy (the Continental Army was
established four months earlier than the Continental Navy
"Continental navy" is a strange label.
Why? The Swiss have a navy too.
They even have an aircraft carrier.
--Did they also have ships that sailed on water?
Yes. They never had an admiral though,
let alone a rear-admiral,
Jan
Le 08/08/2026 |a 08:24, occam a |-crit :
I understand that the military rank of Rear Admiral comes from the old
French word 'riergarde', derived from the adverb "riere" ('behind').
[...]
Hmm. I think admiral is a naval rank, not a military one (cf. the Naval
and Military Club).
On 08/08/2026 12:03, Hibou wrote:
Le 08/08/2026 a 08:24, occam a ocrit :
I understand that the military rank of Rear Admiral comes from the old
French word 'riergarde', derived from the adverb "riere" ('behind').
[...]
Hmm. I think admiral is a naval rank, not a military one (cf. the Naval
and Military Club).
Eh? And what is 'Naval' if not military? Is it a Charity organisation or >Religious body?
On 2026-08-09, J. J. Lodder wrote:
Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> wrote:
On 09/08/26 01:29, Garrett Wollman wrote:
The US Army is senior to the US Navy (the Continental Army was
established four months earlier than the Continental Navy
"Continental navy" is a strange label.
Why? The Swiss have a navy too.
They even have an aircraft carrier.
They have fleets of patrol boats in the larger lakes, but they are
part of the Schweizer Armee/Armoe suisse (etc.).
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2Did they also have ships that sailed on water?
Yes. They never had an admiral though,
let alone a rear-admiral,
Jan
On 2026-08-08, Hibou wrote:
Le 08/08/2026 |a 16:29, Garrett Wollman a |-crit :
Hibou wrote:
Hmm. I think admiral is a naval rank, not a military one (cf. the Naval >>>> and Military Club). The Senior Service seems to dislike being called
'military':
Over here, the only place that makes that contrast is in the two
Service Academies: West Point is the United States *Military* Academy,
and Annapolis is the United States Naval Academy. The US Army is
senior to the US Navy (the Continental Army was established four
months earlier than the Continental Navy, and that navy and its
associated marine corps were disestablished after the Treaty of Paris
1783). There are, of course, still all manner of inter-service
rivalries.
The question is, are air forces 'military' (I mean the adjective)?
Sometimes they clearly are (the RFC-|) or clearly aren't (the RNAS-# and
FAA-|). The RAF I think has to be, for want of a better or more specific
word. Military aviation etc..
-|Royal Flying Corps.
-#Royal Naval Air Service.
-|Fleet Air Arm.
Going back to what Garrett wrote, the US Air Force Academy (founded in
1954) is now separate from the US Military Academy. But the US Air
Force's predecessors (various names) were part of the army until 1947.
On 08/08/2026 12:03, Hibou wrote:
Le 08/08/2026 a 08:24, occam a ocrit :
I understand that the military rank of Rear Admiral comes from the old
French word 'riergarde', derived from the adverb "riere" ('behind').
[...]
Hmm. I think admiral is a naval rank, not a military one (cf. the Naval
and Military Club).
Eh? And what is 'Naval' if not military? Is it a Charity organisation or Religious body?
<blah>
On 08/08/2026 12:03, Hibou wrote:
Le 08/08/2026 |a 08:24, occam a |-crit :
I understand that the military rank of Rear Admiral comes from the old
French word 'riergarde', derived from the adverb "riere" ('behind').
[...]
Hmm. I think admiral is a naval rank, not a military one (cf. the Naval
and Military Club).
Eh? And what is 'Naval' if not military? Is it a Charity organisation or Religious body?
<blah>
occam-a scribbled something on Sunday the 8/9/2026:
On 08/08/2026 12:03, Hibou wrote:
Le 08/08/2026 |a 08:24, occam a |-crit :
I understand that the military rank of Rear Admiral comes from the old >>>> French word 'riergarde', derived from the adverb "riere" ('behind').
[...]
Hmm. I think admiral is a naval rank, not a military one (cf. the Naval
and Military Club).
Eh? And what is 'Naval' if not military? Is it a Charity organisation or
Religious body?
<blah>
It's not a militia, donchanno
On 08/08/2026 23:55, J. J. Lodder wrote:
occam <occam@nowhere.nix> wrote:
I understand that the military rank of Rear Admiral comes
from the old French word 'riergarde', derived from the adverb
"riere" ('behind').
Sure, 'arriere garde', guard of the rear.
'Back-seat' Admiral.
On Sun, 9 Aug 2026 17:24:17 +0200, occam <occam@nowhere.nix> wrote:
[...] Eh? And what is 'Naval' if not military? Is it a Charity organisation >or Religious body?
The Irish Navy Ronnie Drew, Luke Kelly
The Cl|!ona, the Meabh and the Mucha
The pride of the Irish navy
When the Captain he blows on his whistle
All the sailors go home for their tea
While the army is off in the Kongo--
In Cyprus or some foreign parts
Our navy is strained to the limits
Deploying its nautical acts
One day from the Russian invader
Defending our very odd fish
We found it was just the red herring
From the signals we got from the cis'
The Cl|!ona, the Meabh and the Mucha
The pride of the Irish navy
When the Captain he blows on his whistle
All the sailors go home for their tea
Each year they go on manoeuvres
To prepare for defence they are keen
Sometimes it's the Lakes of Killarney
More often the pond in the Green
The canal it could be of assistance
In defending our own holy ground
But due to proposed legislation
We'll have to sail all the way round
The Cl|!ona, the Meabh and the Mucha
The pride of the Irish navy
When the Captain he blows on his whistle
All the sailors go home for their tea
We are a seafaring nation
Defence of our land is a right
We'd fight like the devil all morning
Provided we're home by the night
The Cl|!ona, the Meabh and the Mucha
The pride of the Irish navy
When the Captain he blows on his whistle
All the sailors go home for their tea
> The Cl|!ona, the Meabh and the Mucha
> The pride of the Irish navy
> When the Captain he blows on his whistle
> All the sailors go home for their tea
Not a point of pride for the country ...
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