Cocks letter diary, 1916-1919 / Verner Cocks - Page 452
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[Page 452]
AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE
INSTRUCTIONS TO ALL CONCERNED REGARDING SALUTING AND DISCIPLINE
Extract from 1st Anzac Orders: "Complaints are still being received that Australian soldiers on leave in England do not salute officers in the streets. This is, of course, not only contrary to orders, but gives a very bad impression, as people in England judge the smartness and soldierly bearing of any troops very greatly by their manners in the streets; and this matter of saluting is the most obvious and noticeable test that comes within their daily observation.
"The Army Corps Commander realises that the majority of our men are doing their best to maintain the good name of the A.I.F. for smartness, but a certain number of men are slack and careless, and make disciplinary action necessary.
"He therefore directs that orders shall be issued in all Australian Units, calling attention to this matter. Officers will be instructed, when in England, to take the name of any man failing to salute, and report him to A.I.F. Headquarters. Any man so reported will lose the balance of his leave, and be at once returned to duty. It must be impressed on all officers that it is their duty to report these cases. The reputation of the A.I.F. is suffering more than those serving in France understand or appreciate, through the slackness of certain men in this respect, and all must do their utmost to get this set right."
Reference to above, it is brought to the notice of all ranks that salutes should be accorded on all occasions, whether in open or closed places such as Arcades, Shops, Railway Carriages and Stations etc, and the fact that a senior is sitting down in no manner does away with the necessity for saluting him.
The idea also appears to be prevalent that saluting can be dispensed with by soldiers walking with a member of the opposite sex, or when wearing hospital clothing, or when they themselves are sitting down. This is entirely fallacious. There is no order or custom excepting soldiers from the obligation of saluting in such cases.
The rule is, that superiors are saluted and return salutes on all occasions, with no exceptions whatever.