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Discussion Groups / British English / January 2005'Queen's Service'
Hallo, a newspaper article I read recently mentioned the weblog of a soldier in Iraq who posted an letter by his commanding officer. In this letter, the officer used the phrase 'leaving the Queen's service', although I assumed that he must have been American (all references where clearly to the US). Is this expression a standard expression in the Armed Forces? Thank you! Best wishes, Gunter > Hallo, > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > although I assumed that he must have been American (all references > where clearly to the US). He can't have been American. > Is this expression a standard expression in the Armed Forces? Quite possibly - but only for countries which have a Queen. Which would include Australia, of course.  SignatureJohn Briggs >> Hallo, >> a newspaper article I read recently mentioned the weblog of a soldier >> in Iraq who posted an letter by his commanding officer. In this >> letter, the officer used the phrase 'leaving the Queen's service', >> although I assumed that he must have been American (all references >> where clearly to the US). >He can't have been American. >> Is this expression a standard expression in the Armed Forces? >Quite possibly - but only for countries which have a Queen. Which would >include Australia, of course. There is a strong possibility that the soldier was Canadian, which has the same queen. At least the English speaking parts do. That is to say that Canada is part of the Commonwealth. Sig: I have a brain the size of a planet. It's not much good to me, however. It's on a different planet. >>>Hallo, > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > the same queen. At least the English speaking parts do. That is to > say that Canada is part of the Commonwealth. Officially the Queen of England is alo the Queen of Canada (all of it - not just the English-speaking parts). Regards, Einde O'Callaghan > Officially the Queen of England is alo the Queen of Canada (all of it - > not just the English-speaking parts). And officially there is no such thing as the Queen of England - her official title in the UK is "Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith." Nothing in that about being "Queen of England" or indeed "Scotland" as both those monarchies are now united under the "Great Britain" part in the present title. In Canada her title is "Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom, Canada and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith." Rotes Sapiens typed thus: > >> Hallo, > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > the same queen. At least the English speaking parts do. That is to > say that Canada is part of the Commonwealth. Elizabeth Windsor, who happens to be Queen of England, is the head of state of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other countries. The Commonwealth is irrelevant here - India and South Africa are not monarchies. And you can't really be suggesting that Canadians' head of state is different depending on what language they speak? SignatureDavid ===== replace the first component of address with the definite article. > Rotes Sapiens typed thus: > > There is a strong possibility that the soldier was Canadian, which > > has the same queen. At least the English speaking parts do. That > > is to say that Canada is part of the Commonwealth. > Elizabeth Windsor, who happens to be Queen of England, is the head of > state of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other countries. The > Commonwealth is irrelevant here - India and South Africa are not > monarchies. > And you can't really be suggesting that Canadians' head of state is > different depending on what language they speak? Wouldn't she be "La Reine" to French speakers? Signaturehttp://www.dacha.freeuk.com/aureole/60-mandy.htm The eyes pop out in agony, The legs collapse at hip and knee, The backbone shatter into three... >> Rotes Sapiens typed thus: > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Wouldn't she be "La Reine" to French speakers? Even Quebec separatist parliamentarians take an oath to the Queen when they are installed, although some tend to mutter it quickly. And for added confusion, in Montreal, there is a hotel called "Le Reine Elizabeth" The "Le" referring to hotel not her majesty. And a Canadian film called Elizabeth Rex has just won an award. >Rotes Sapiens typed thus: >> >> Hallo, >> >> a newspaper article I read recently mentioned the weblog of a soldier >> >> in Iraq who posted an letter by his commanding officer. In this >> >> letter, the officer used the phrase 'leaving the Queen's service', >> >> although I assumed that he must have been American (all references >> >> where clearly to the US). >> >He can't have been American. >> >> Is this expression a standard expression in the Armed Forces? >> >Quite possibly - but only for countries which have a Queen. Which would >> >include Australia, of course. >> There is a strong possibility that the soldier was Canadian, which has >> the same queen. At least the English speaking parts do. That is to >> say that Canada is part of the Commonwealth. >Elizabeth Windsor, who happens to be Queen of England, is the head of >state of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other countries. The >Commonwealth is irrelevant here - India and South Africa are not >monarchies. >And you can't really be suggesting that Canadians' head of state is >different depending on what language they speak? That bit was tongue-in-cheek. Sig: I have a brain the size of a planet. It's not much good to me, however. It's on a different planet. >>> Hallo, > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > the same queen. At least the English speaking parts do. That is to > say that Canada is part of the Commonwealth. I would say that the possibility was weak, because I am not aware of any Canadian soldiers being in Iraq :-) SignatureJohn Briggs |
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