There is the strange practice (in the UK anyway ) of some retired members of the Forces insisting on being referred to by their ex-rank - Captain Mark Phillips being one notably daft example.
I know one instance of a ex-mariner who would always let you know he was "Captain ......" still, at 76 y-o.
The funny thing was, he always walked as if he never quite got his land-legs back - literally proceeding with a rolling kind of gait....
Sadly, when I tried it I was accused of consuming the Demon Drink, quite falsley.
The "ex-" , by the by, is apparently OK with some "trades" (ex- MP, ex-banker, for example ) but I don't ever recall hearing of ex-Captain Mark Phillips, for example, certainly.
Bit infra dig, prob'ly.
Lower the old tone slightly.
And while we're on it, what about Leftenant and Lootenant - Noel Coward musical in there somewhere..............
