"GET OFF THE QUEEN'S GRASS!" - What is the origins of this and is it just a ATC or Sqn thing?

Cadets The Crew Room
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I’m a bit curious to find out shouting “Get off the Queen’s grass!” comes from.

When I was a recruit/first class Cdt, I remember the Sr Nco’s shouting this to cadets when they walk on the grass while on an RAF base.

Is this a reference from a film for a show that I am too young to know about or is it just my own sqn thing? :thinking:

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Definately not a thing from just your sqn, think it’s relatively widespread through the corps. Not sure of its origin.

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It’s a military thing worldwide, reasons are twofold

  1. Stops the grassed areas from being destroyed by foot traffic.

  2. It’s a symbolic gesture, by taking a shortcut across the grass you are saying you take shortcuts in life.

Certainly not a recent thing either, as referenced in Bad Lads Army

MB

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Those DS were actually lovely chaps. One was a WO who ran the York Remembrance parade and Festival of Remembrance. Had a lot of patience with cadets.

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I remember watching Bad Lads army but have never seen this bit.

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I believe the Cpl Nauyokas was a WO in the RAF, but I think He’s left now.

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The officer (Capt Lort-Phillips) is one of our former cadets…

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He was a WO2 in the army originally (RAOC) and later joined the RAF on a FTRS contract. He was FS Discip at Cranwell when I bumped into him prowling about outside Daedalus Mess around 2014. There’s a video doing the rounds of him coordinating a local parade which includes RAFAC personnel.

MB

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FTRS FS, met him at Cranwell a few times, nice bloke, but wouldn’t want to be on his bad side…

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Met him once - decided he was a bit of an idiot for his complete failing to recognise Queen’s Commissions of VR(T) Officers, and hence flatly refusing to salute, and saying so in front of cadets. Some re-education was required.

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That is an expert boot skating stop. I’m impressed.

But yes… Don’t walk on the grass.
Why “The Queen’s” grass? …Because it’s her armed forces, therefore her grass.

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He is still in as a FTRS Sgt.

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don’t have this at my squadron, but do have “off the stones.” from every nco and member of staff.

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Its just something NCOs like to say because it makes us feel good

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I have heard with the RN, if you’re on the grass than the scream is ‘Man overboard’.

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I have only heard it once at my SQN.

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The CDT who said it was from Britain. I think it’s from a film or some running joke with his majesty from a long time ago…