2007-06-14 02:49:29 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
"Short Trail" means that the weapon is suspended on the sword hook with the uppermost scabbard ring (worn close to the body rather than hanging lower).
I would IMAGINE that this would be because a Naval Officer is working on the more confined spaces of a warship rather than the fields as an Army Officer would.
It's a bloody pain in the back-side to wear the sword with the Ceremoanial uniform... thankfully I only had to do it a dozen times in my career.
2007-06-14 04:35:58 · answer #1 · answered by mariner31 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pamela is just about there. Royal Navy officers are not gentlemen (unlike the idiot in that American film!). There was a mutiny in Queen Victoria's time, not sure which ship. The officers were all thrown off the ship. Basically they said that although the crew had mutineed (hanging offence), all they wanted was the ship back. If they brought it back they would not be charged, and they gave their word as officers and gentlemen. Lo and behold the ship comes back and the mutineers were killed. Queen Victoria was disgusted, so stripped Naval Officers of their "gentlemen" title, hence the sword at the short trail. It means another gentleman would see you coming and know you were someone of ill repute.
Oddly enough, I think the Prime Minister has to ask the queen to re-instate the title of gentlemen each year. It was supposed to only last 200 years and that has since passed, but QE2 still says no when asked!
2007-06-17 14:54:16 · answer #2 · answered by Mike T 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its a sign of disgrace, only gentlemen wear swords,
came about after a mutiny, Queen Victoria said it, also same thing about mustache
2007-06-14 10:03:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋