“ Leave to carry on Ma’am/ Sir, please” v “Permission to carry on sergeant, please”

I’ve heard it said - I think - in one of the navy basic training documentaries that was on a while ago. Said at the office before they disappear.

Me neither. As a SWO it was always, “Permission to carryout, Sir / Ma’am”, when the ceremonial had finished. Sounds like someone’s been making things up for their own division of class…

Well, you wouldn’t be wrong. Speaking with the WWO yesterday it seems this ‘tradition’ was introduced by a Sector Commander quite a few years back - said Sector Commander was ex-Army, and this is how it is done at RMC Sandhurst.

Pretty sure this is an old army custom, not replicated by the RAF.

I’m afraid I gave up on that at the fourth 30-second unskippable ad.

Did you really get 4 ads? As I’ve only ever got 2, one of which has always been skippable.

Bloody ads…

It’s on BBC too… BBC iPlayer - In the Highest Tradition - Episode 5
The clip starts at just before 5:00 here.