Introduction

These notes are from the Army Protocol Manual 1999 as published on the www at DigerHistory.com.au. They are a useful guide to the conduct of the activity of a Mess or Tavern.

Army Protocols

THE MESS 8

Introduction

8.1

The officers' and the sergeant' messes are unique institutions developed in the British Army.

They are peculiar to Commonwealth Armies and lack exact counterparts in other armies.

8.2

An officer once retained private servants whose duties included transporting his baggage, tending his horse, preparing his quarters and arranging his meals. There is no record of officers dining together on a regular basis, with a common shared bill of fare, prior to 1740. This is generally recognised as the beginning of the officers' mess and, in time, the sergeants' mess was also established.

8.3

The mess, in general terms, refers to the buildings and surrounding areas belonging to the mess (eg car park, outdoor drinking facilities and barbecue area, gardens, swimming pool, tennis court etc); it also refers to any detached accommodation buildings.

Functions of the Mess

8.4

The mess plays an important part in the life of a corps, regiment, or a unit. The mess is the place in which all members may meet on a more-or-less equal social footing. Although the mess is the home of the officers, and the warrant officers and senior noncommissioned officers, of a corps, regiment, or a unit, it is also very much the home of the living-in members. The conduct of members follows a pattern based on traditional customs and procedures.

Mess Rules 8.5

The management of each mess is the responsibility of the members. The constitution and rules for the conduct of messes are laid down in Defence Instruction (Army) Administration 46–2—Constitution and Rules for Officers' and Sergeants' Messes'. These rules are not unnecessarily restrictive but, they ensure the smooth operation of the mess for the benefit of all the members and their guests.

8.6

A mess will also have it's own local mess rules pertaining to dress (in line with those laid down in the Chief of Army's Army Standing Orders for Dress), dining and bar timings etc. It is the individual responsibility of each member to be familiar with these local rules immediately on entering a mess.

Mess Staff 8.7

Mess staff are to be treated with courtesy and consideration, without encouraging familiarity. All mess staff are to be addressed by their rank or title. Civilian or contractor's employees are to be referred to as Mr, Mrs, Miss or Ms... (family name) ... as appropriate. The staff are not to be employed on personal errands.

8.8

Any complaints on mess matters, or in regard to the way the staff carry out their duties, are to be addressed to the appropriate mess committee member and not to the mess staff.

8.9

It must be remembered that, in some messes, the staff are regimental soldiers who have not been trained in the jobs that they are performing within the mess; they are to be treated with extra patience and consideration.

Entry to the Mess 8.10

Visitors to a mess (both serving members of the Defence Force and civilian personnel), are to ring the door bell and wait at the entrance until either a member of the mess or the staff invites them in.

Guests 8.11

Guests to a mess are to be entertained by their host. Hosts are responsible for their guests, including their conduct, and is to ensure that the guests are familiar with the mess customs and procedures. It is also courtesy for guests, military or civilian, to sign the visitor's book when visiting the mess.

8.12

Guests are to be introduced to the Commanding Officer (CO)/Regimental Sergeant-Major (RSM) and/or the President of the Mess Committee (PMC) as soon as possible on arrival in the mess. If these people are not in the mess when a guest arrives the guest is to be introduced to the senior member present, and as soon as the CO/RSM and/or the PMC arrives the guest is to be introduced.

8.13

A host is to arrange for guests to say goodbye to the CO/RSM and/or the PMC before they depart and, a host is not to depart from the mess before their guests.

8.14

A spouse, who is not a member of the mess, is to be treated as a guest at all times.

8.15

Mess members whose spouses are Service members, and whose ranks do not entitle them to mess membership may, with the approval of the CO/RSM or the PMC, be accompanied by their spouses on occasions when mixed functions are held, provided uniform is not worn and normal courtesy is observed to superior ranking officers.

8.16

Hosts should attend to their guests needs and well being and members should mix freely with guests, making them feel welcome.

Dress in the Mess 8.17

Members and their guests are to maintain high standards of dress within the mess. Local mess rules, based on Army Standing Orders for Dress, are to stipulate the standard of dress that is acceptable.

Members are responsible, at all times, for the standard of dress of their guests.

Compliments, Courtesy and Mode of Address

8.18

The exchange of compliments is an expression of mutual respect and is not to be interpreted as a mark of servility, therefore each senior rank, or office, must be given the appropriate compliment, and a compliment from a subordinate rank must be acknowledged.

8.19

There are two ways of paying compliments in a mess; rising from a chair or, if standing, coming to attention. Each, depending on the situation, is appropriate.

8.20

It is courtesy for those who are present to pay compliments to general officers, commanders, commandants and their equivalents, COs, RSMs and PMCs when they enter and depart the mess. Members who enter the mess after these people are to pay their respects as soon as is possible and when a member leaves the mess he/she is to say farewell to the above mentioned personages.

8.21

Compliments are also paid to civilian women and, in a sergeants' mess, to officers, and functional command and formation RSMs visiting the mess.

8.22

Officers, warrant officers and noncommissioned officers are to treat their seniors with the courtesy due to their rank and/or position. As a guideline people within a mess are addressed as follows:

• a. persons of equal rank address each other by their first name;
• b. juniors normally address their seniors by either ‘sir/ma'am' or their rank and name;
• c. in an officers' mess lieutenants address the unit adjutant as ‘sir/ma'am'; and
• d. in a sergeants' mess the RSM and the PMC are addressed as ‘sir/ma'am'.

8.23

In a mess officers or warrant officers, when not on duty, may invite persons junior in rank to address them by their first name. Major generals and lieutenant generals are addressed as ‘general' and lieutenant colonels are addressed as ‘colonel'.

8.24

When members introduce non-Service guests to senior Military persons it is natural and acceptable to use the senior person's rank. Senior persons should then, upon being introduced, inform the guests of their first name.

Hospitality 8.25

A mess is generally judged by the way it's members treat their guests. If a visitor is initially unaccompanied, a mess member should, without hesitation, greet and entertain the visitor until the visitor's host arrives.

8.26

Visiting Service personnel to the mess should also be made to feel welcome and introduced around to the other members present.

Dining in the Mess

8.27

Formal meals are under the control of the dining president and are to follow the procedure for a formal mess dinner as laid down in chapter 9.

8.28

At informal meals members may either enter or leave the dining room within the hours laid down by the mess committee and, with the exception of the CO, RSM and the PMC, there are no reserved seats.

8.29

Should a member or a guest have a special dietary requirement the member is to inform the dining member in advance.

Newspapers and Magazines  8.30

Newspapers are normally read in either the ante-room or reading room, however, it is acceptable for newspapers and magazines to be read at the breakfast table.

Alcohol 8.31

There is no custom or tradition that requires mess members to accept an invitation to drink with their fellow members, or to drink alcoholic beverages at all; on the contrary, excessive indulgence is not to be tolerated and is a sign of a lack of self-discipline. No embarrassment is to be caused to those who decline to have an alcoholic drink. Members are only required to pay for their own drinks, or for personal guests. Members and guests are not under any obligation to join a ‘shout'.

8.32

Any ceremony or activity that requires, or encourages, the excessive consumption of alcohol is not permitted.

8.33

Only in exceptional circumstances, and with the approval of the CO, is alcohol to be consumed during normal duty hours. Alcohol is not to be consumed before or during periods of rostered duty.

8.34

Where the mess invites official guests to a function all the mess members are to share the costs as determined by the mess committee

Attendance at Mess Functions and Meetings 8.35

The mess committee may deem certain selected functions (eg dining-in nights) as compulsory attendance by all members. Members wishing to be excused from such functions are to write to the mess secretary seeking exemption, however, such requests should not be assumed as being automatically granted.

8.36

Mess general meetings are also compulsory.

Officers Visiting the Sergeants’ Mess 8.37

The sergeants' mess is the home of the warrant officers and senior noncommissioned officers and must only be visited by officers as follows:

• a. when invited by the RSM/PMC of the mess, and
• b. with the permission of the PMC of the officers' mess and the CO of the sergeants' mess.

8.38

When officers have been invited to a sergeants' mess their hosts rightfully expect behaviour of the same standard that the officers expect from their guests. The normal courtesies are to be paid on arrival and departure to the RSM and/or PMC of the sergeants' mess. Members of the sergeants' mess are to be treated with friendly courtesy.

8.39

The CO, or the senior officer present, may be expected to give lead when it is time to depart and other officers are to conform so that they do not overstay their welcome.

8–4

Warrant Officers and Senior Noncommissioned Officers Visiting the Officers’ Mess 8.40

Warrant officers and senior noncommissioned officers are normally only invited to the officers' mess during the annual visit by all members of the sergeants' mess. The CO of a unit may, however, occasionally invite the RSM to the officers' mess for special occasions.

Visiting Another Mess 8.41

If staying overnight at another mess it is acceptable to proceed directly to the appropriate mess on arrival at the unit and seek out the mess manager/supervisor (by going to the front door and ringing the bell). Once accommodated the guest should then report to, or get in touch with, either the adjutant or the RSM (whichever is relevant).

8.42

When departing the unit it is customary to strip the bed and fold the linen. It is also good manners to send a letter of thanks to the PMC and/or the CO/RSM.

Honorary Members 8.43

Honorary members of a mess are normally either ex-military personnel or civilians who have been nominated to and accepted by the mess committee. The following personages are also honorary members of all Army messes:

• a. the Governor-General and the Governor-General's personal staff;
• b. state governors and their personal staff; and
• c. administrators of the territories of the Commonwealth and the territories administered by the Commonwealth.

8.44

Honorary memberships cannot be granted for life and they are to be reviewed annually by the mess committee.

CHAPTER 9
THE MESS DINNER 9 Introduction9 9.1

The Formal Mess Dinner, commonly referred to as the Dining in Night, is an Army tradition.

Over time simple procedures have become established practices and they impart a graciousness to the occasion not often found elsewhere. The Dinner is a regular feature of mess life.

9.2

These Dinners differ from informal and formal meals, in so far as all members of the mess are required to attend and guests may also be invited. A member may only be excused from a Formal Dinner with the permission of the President of the Mess Committee (PMC).

9.3

This chapter should be read in conjunction with Chapter 8 http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-asstd/protocol-1999.htm#CHAPTER 8#CHAPTER 8.

Procedure 9.4

A similar Dinner procedure is to be followed in all messes and minor variations, for no apparent reason, are not to occur, however, real customs that have some true regimental/corps basis are encouraged, except where they may contravene Army policy, or military/civil law.

Invitations 9.5

Invitations to a mess dinner are dealt with in chapter 4.

The Dining President 9.6 9.6

The Dinner is under the control of the Dining President who is appointed by the PMC. Any member may be appointed as the Dining President, including the CO, the RSM, or the PMC.

9.7

Whilst the planning of the Dinner is the responsibility of the PMC and the mess committee, it is the Dining President who is responsible for the actual conduct of the Dinner on the evening in question; the Dining President is to ensure that all the customs and traditions of both the mess and the Dinner are observed.

The Dining Vice-President 9.8 9.8

The Dining Vice-President is normally a junior member of the mess and is appointed by the PMC to assist the Dinning Preside

9.9

The Dining Vice-President may be referred to as ‘Dining Vice-President', however, the term more commonly used is ‘Mr Vice', regardless of gender.

The Seating Plan 

9.10

When male and females are present at a dinner together the following guidelines for the seating arrangements should be observed:

• a. As far as possible men and women should be seated alternately.
• b. Spouses/partners should normally be seated opposite, or diagonally opposite each
• other however, if a member is bringing a new partner to the Dinner it is acceptable to
• have the couple sitting next to each other).
• c. The Dining President is seated at the centre of the main (‘top') table (if the seating
• arrangements employ either a T, U, or a multi-leg shaped layout; see annexes A, B
• and C). If a single table is to be used the President is positioned in the centre of one side
• of the table with, if possible, the National Flags, or the Colours, behind the President (see annexes D, E and F).
• d. At a ‘Members only Dinner' the senior official guest sits to the right of the Dining President and the second senior official guest to the President's left. If possible the CO (RSM), the unit 2IC and the mess secretary should also sit at the ‘top' table.

9–2

e. At a ‘Mixed' Dinner the senior official guest sits to the right of the Dining President and the guest's wife/husband sits to the President's left; the wife/husband of the President sits to the right of the senior official guest. If possible, the seating should then alternate male-female around the table(s).

f. The Dining Vice-President is positioned, if the seating arrangements employ either a T, U, or a multi-leg shaped layout, at the end of the left-hand table (looking up towards the ‘top' table). If a single table arrangement is set-up the Vice-President is positioned at the end of the table, to the President's right (an experienced and responsible member should be positioned next to, or near, the Vice-President to guide the member through the evening's proceedings).

9.11

The other official guests may be seated at the ‘top' table, or they may be evenly spread around the other tables, intermingled with the mess members

9.12

There is no requirement for the official guest's personal host to sit with the guest during the Dinner.

The Order of Ceremony 9.13 9.13

The Order of Ceremony for a Formal Mess Dinner is as follows:

• a. assembly of the mess members and unofficial guests;
• b. reception of the official guest(s);
• c. move into dinner;
• d. marching-in the Colours;
• e. grace;
• f. the meal;
• g. passing the port;
• h. the toasts;
• i. speeches;
• j. marching-out the Colours;
• k. withdrawal from the table;
• l. coffee (and drinks) in the ante room;
• m. departure of the official guest(s); and
• n. departure of the members and other guests.

The Assembly 9.14 9.14

The first timing on an invitation is that time which all the members of the mess are to be assembled in the mess ante room (or any other nominated location) for the receiving of the official guests. The second timing is that expected for moving into the dinner (eg 7.00 for 7.30 means all members are to be assembled by 7 o'clock).

9.15

The only drinks to be served prior to dinner are sherry or non-alcoholic beverages (normally orange juice).

9.16

All guests and members are to sign the visitors' book on arrival at the mess.

Reception of the Official Guests 9.17

Official guests are given exact times to arrive and it is courtesy that they arrive at the requested time and not earlier, nor later.

9.18

Members of the mess, nominated by the Dining President, are allocated to each official guest to act as their personal hosts for the evening.

9.19

If the Dinner is a mixed occasion, and the guest is accompanied, there is to be a host and

9.20

The procedure for receiving official guests is as follows:

• a. the guest is received, if possible, just outside the front door to the mess by the Dining President, assisted by the guest's personal host;
• b. the Dining President introduces the guest to the PMC and the CO (RSM);
• c. the guest is asked to sign the visitors' book;
• d. the guest is provided with a refreshment by the host;
• e. the guest is then introduced to the members and guests by the Dining Vice-President (this is normally carried-out by the Vice-President ringing a bell, to which all talking and drinking ceases and the members and guests turn to face the guest); and f. the host then escorts the official guest around the room, personally introducing the members and guests (this is carried-out naturally and without fuss; it is not important that the guest gets around the whole mess before dinner).

9.21

When introducing guests at a mess function (or any other function, including parades) initialsand post-nominals are NOT used (eg the correct method of introducing Brigadier A.J. Mummery, AO, the Commander of 2nd Brigade is: ‘Gentlemen, the Brigade Commander, Brigadier Mummery' or,

‘Ladies and Gentlemen, the Brigade Commander, Brigadier Mummery, and Mrs Mummery'.

9.22

A Knight would be introduced as ‘Sir Richard Reading' or, ‘Sir Richard and Lady Reading'.

9.23

If there is more than one official guest to be received the junior guest arrives first with the senior guest arriving last.

The Move Into Dinner 9.24

Five minutes before moving into dinner members and guests are advised that dinner is about to be served. This may be done verbally, with the Dining Vice-President saying: ‘Gentlemen (ladies and gentlemen), five minutes'. However, this may also announced by means of a bugle call (‘Warning for Dinner'); with a large gathering, or with a mixed dinner, it may be advisable to give a 10 minute warning.

9.25

At the appropriate time, and satisfied that all the guests and members are ready, the Vice-President will announce that dinner is served. This is normally done with the Vice-President asking:

‘Gentlemen (ladies and gentlemen) would you please accompany the Dining President and his (her) guests into dinner' (the verbal announcement may be replaced by the playing of ‘Mess Call').

9.26

The Dining President accompanies the ‘top' table official guests to their seats. The other official guests are accompanied to their seats by their personal hosts. It is the responsibly of all personal hosts to be familiar with their guests seating arrangements and ensure that the guests are advised of where their seats are before moving into the dinner.

9.27

At ‘mixed' dinners it is the gentlemen's responsibility to check the seating plan and seek out (at least five minutes prior to moving into dinner) the lady who will be sitting to their right.

9.28

The members and other guests follow on immediately behind the official guests and all members and guests move to a position behind their seats. At ‘mixed' dinners the gentlemen escort in the ladies who will be sitting to their right by offering the ladies their left arm.

9–4

9.29

The Dining Vice-President assures that all the guests and members have moved in for dinner and then takes up the appropriate position at the table. When in position the Dining Vice-President reports: ‘Sir (ma'm); the Mess is assembled'.

9.30

The tables in the dining room are set for the exact number of guests and members, however, if for any reason there is a vacant place the spare table settings and chair are to be removed by the mess stewards and the gap is to be, as best as is possible, closed-up. This should be completed, if possible, before dinner is served.

9.31

No member or guest is to enter the dining room after the Dining Vice-President.

9.32

If a piper, or a band is present, the ‘Army March', or the appropriate regimental march, may be played as the members and guests make their way to their seats. The piper leads the President and official guests into the dining room and, standing at a suitable position, continues to play. Once everyone is at their seat the piper ceases playing and marches-out of the room.

9.33 I

f Colours (etc.) are to be marched-in the Dining President, once the Mess is assembled, orders: ‘March-in the Colours'.

GraceI 9.34

Once the mess is assembled, the Colours (if applicable) are in place and the Colour party has retired, the Dining President asks the chaplain, if present, or one of the members to say grace.

9.35

Grace should be short and, if the regimental or corps in question has a laid down form of grace, it is to be said.

9.36

At the conclusion of grace the Dining President is the first to be seated; however, if the President is a gentleman and there is a lady beside him, he should pull-out her chair and assist her to sit before sitting himself. This gesture is also carried-out by the remaining gentlemen for the ladies to their right.

The Meal 9.37

The Dinner may consist of either three or four courses:

• a. an appetiser,
• b. an entree,
• c. the main course, and
• d. dessert.

9.38

The first course (the appetiser, if on the menu, or the entree) should be, if possible, already

9.39

The first person to be served is the Dining President and no one is to commence eating until the President does so. The President does not start eating, however, until all of the ‘top' table is served or, at a single table setting, until the entire table is served. The President should commence eating as soon as possible so as to prevent the hot meals from cooling down.

9.40

The Vice-President is served immediately after the President.

9.41

There should be one food steward for no more than 10 stations (places) when employing plated service or, six stations if employing silver (or spoon and fork) service. At each station the food is served in a clockwise direction.

9.42

Beverages are also served in a clockwise direction, again starting with the President and the Vice-President.

9.43

Diners are to be offered a choice between wines and non-alcoholic beverages and they are both to be served concurrently throughout the dinner.

9.44

Plates and food are served from the left of the diner and finished plates are also removed from the left; drink is poured from the diner's right.

9.45

The mess supervisor is to be positioned in a suitable location convenient to the Dining President. The supervisor is to control and supervise the stewards throughout the Dinner and, at the same time, be attentive to both the President and the Vice-President for any instructions.

9.46

Should the Dining Vice-President be called away from the table, for any reason, a junior officer (sergeant) sitting near to the Vice-President is to stand-in until Vice-President's return.

9.47

Normally there is no break during a Dinner, however, there may be some occasions when it would be suitable to do so; in this case the break is conducted between the main meal and dessert.

Should a guest have to leave the table during the Dinner the departure should be done quietly and without fuss, and the guest should be accompanied by the person seated to the guest's left 

9.48

If a band is present, unobtrusive music may be played throughout the Dinner.

9.49

At the completion of the dessert the stewards clear the table(s). The only items to be left are the following:

• a. port glasses;
• b. table centre pieces and trophies;
• c. candelabras;
• d. floral arrangements; and
• e. the President's hammer and gavel.

Passing the Port 9.50 9.50

Once the tables are cleared the decanters of port are brought out. One decanter is placed in front of the Dining President and another in front of the Dining Vice-President. If desired, decanters may be placed at other positions too (eg at the top and bottom of each table).

9.51

When all the decanters have been placed in position, and the excess stewards have withdrawn, the President removes the stopper from the top of the decanter, places it on the table and then pours his (her) own glass; the glass is only 'half-filled'. The President then passes the decanter to the left (if a lady guest is to the left of a gentleman President the President 'fully' fills her glass before passing the decanter on).

9.52

The Dining Vice-President removes the stopper from the decanter at the same time as the Dining President and follows the same procedures. Members with other decanters remove the stoppers after the President and Vice-President have done so, however, they fully fill their glasses before passing the decanters on. The glasses of lady guests are filled for them by the gentlemen on their right.

9.53

The port is always passed to the left and, with the exception of both the President and Vice-President, all members and guests glasses are fully filled.

9.54

A few stewards are to be on hand to replace any decanters that become empty, to carry decanters across from the end of one table to the start of another and, to serve water to any guest who does not wish to drink port.

9.55

When the decanters return to both the Dining President and Dining Vice-President they top up their own glasses. The stoppers are not replaced, into the decanter, until it is decided that no more port is to be poured.

9.56

No one is to drink until such time as the first toast is given. There is no Army tradition about the method of ‘passing the port' (other than it is passed to the left), however, it should be done, without rushing, as quickly as possible. Once the port is passed all the mess staff retire from the dining room but, at the direction of the Dining President, the mess supervisor may remain.

The Toasts 9.57

The sequence of toasts is as follows:

• a. the Loyal Toast;
• b. Commonwealth heads of state (not government), in alphabetical order;
• c. other heads of state (not government), in alphabetical order;
• d. the colonel-in-chief;
• e. the Australian Army;
• f. the corps or regiment; and
• g. if applicable, other toasts (eg at a ‘mixed' dinner, ‘The Ladies').

9.58

Toasts are normally called for by the Dining President and proposed by the Dining Vice-President. Guests, however, do NOT call for, nor propose a toast. The Vice-President's proposal is repeated by the members and guests.

9.59

The methods of proposing toasts are laid-out in the following paragraphs. No other words or phrases (eg ‘please be up-standing') are to be used.

The Loyal Toast 9.60 9.60

The calling for and the proposing of the Loyal Toast is carried-out as follows:

• a. the Dining President, remaining seated, calls the Dinner to order and says ‘Dining

'Vice-President' (or ‘Mr Vice');

• b. the Dining Vice-President will stand and say ‘Gentlemen (or ‘Ladies and gentlemen');
• all guests and members stand and the glasses remain on the table;
• c. the band, if present, will play the first four and last four bars of the Australian National Anthem;
• d. once the music is completed or, if there is no band, once all the guests and members are standing and quiet, the Dining Vice-President will say ‘The Queen'; all will raise their glasses and say ‘The Queen' (guests and members with their backs to the portrait of Her Majesty are to turn and face it);
• e. once the toast is completed the Dining President sits, followed by the guests and members.

9.61

The Australian Army does not embellish the Loyal toast.

Toasts to Foreign Heads of State 9.62 9.62

When a foreign member or guest is present a toast should be proposed to that person's head of state (NOT to the head of government, unless they are one-and-the-same). It is suggested that the person, or guest be consulted beforehand for the correct wording of the toast.

9.63

As with the Loyal Toast, toasts to foreign heads of state are not embellished. Should there be any problems or doubts about the method, or the order of the toasts, then the idea of toasting foreign heads of state should be abandoned.

9.64

The method of toasting a foreign head of state is basically as described at paragraph 9.60, however, the Dining President would announce the full title of the personage being toasted (eg ‘The President of the United States of America') and the Dining Vice-President will propose the toast using an ‘abbreviated' form (eg ‘Gentlemen, the President').

9.65

If a band is present then it would play the authorised version of the appropriate national anthem, however, if two or more foreign heads of state are to be toasted then they would normally be done so without the playing of the foreign anthems.

Toasts to Colonels-in-Chief 9.66

Corps or regiments that have a member of the Royal Family as the colonel-in-chief may include a toast to the colonel-in-chief into the Dinner. The Dining President will call the Dinner to order by saying, for example, ‘Dining Vice-President' or, ‘Mr Vice' (or some other previously nominated member), ‘Our Colonel-in-Chief, the Prince of Wales'. The proposal will be ‘Gentlemen (Ladies and Gentlemen), the Prince of Wales'.

9.67

The Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery combines the Loyal Toast and the toast to the Captain-General (Colonel-in-Chief). At a Gunner Dinner the Dining President calls the mess to order by saying ‘Mr Vice, The Queen, our Captain-General'. Mr Vice proposes the toast by saying ‘Gentlemen (Ladies and gentlemen), the Queen'.

Toasts to the Australian Army, Corps, or Regiments 9.68

Toasts to the Army, to a corps, or to a regiment, other than the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery, may have a musical accompaniment of no more than 32 bars (there is no musical accompaniment to a Gunner Toast). The Toast to the Army is called by the Dining President saying ‘The Australian Army', the response by the Dining Vice-President, and by the members and guests is ‘The Army'.

9.69

At most dinners when a corps is toasted the President will call the Dinner to order by saying 'Dining Vice-President' (or another pre-selected person), followed by the full title of the corps (eg ‘The Australian Army Band Corps'); the proposal will normally be ‘Gentlemen (Ladies and Gentlemen), The Corps'; however, some corps standing orders may dictate a different call and response.

9.70

In the Royal Australian Infantry Corps, when toasting a regiment, the Dining President simply calls for the Dining Vice-President, or another nominated person (eg ‘Mr Vice'); the nominated person stands and proposes the toast by saying ‘Gentlemen (Ladies and Gentlemen), The Regiment'.

9.71

In the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery the Dining President calls ‘Mr Vice, The Regiment', the proposal is ‘Gentlemen (Ladies and Gentlemen), The Royal Regiment'.

Other Toasts 9.72

At a dinner where there are many foreign guests, representing a number of countries (eg the Chief of Army's Exercise Dinner), the Dining President will call the Dining Vice-President by saying: ‘Dining Vice-President, the Heads of State of the Nations of the attending delegates'. The Vice-President proposes the toast with ‘Gentlemen (Ladies and Gentlemen), The Heads of State'.

National Anthems 9.73

The Australian National Anthem (as the Host Country) is played AFTER the anthems of other countries. The anthems of other countries are played in an (alphabetical) descending order. Before the dinner it is wise to advise all the relevant personages, of the countries concerned, of the order so as to ensure that all are satisfied with the selected order. If there is any doubt or concern then no anthems should be played.

9.74

At the completion of the toasts the Dining President may invite the senior band member, or piper, as applicable, to the ‘top' table; the mess supervisor is to place a chair between the President and the senior official guest. The person concerned is offered a drink (normally a port, or water, however, it is customary to offer whiskey to a piper) and after no more than two drinks the band member, or piper, withdraws and the chair is removed.

9.75

The port is normally circulated again, as described in paragraphs 9.53 and 9.54, unless the President replaces the stopper into the decanter, in which case no more port is passed or poured.

After Dinner Speeches 9.76

The order for speeches after a dinner is as follows:

• a. the Host, or the Dining President;
• b. the junior ranking official guest; and
• c. the senior ranking guest.

9.77

In the case where there are co-hosts the order is as follows:

• a. the Dining President;
• b. the junior Host, or the Host in whose Mess the dinner is being conducted;
• c. the senior Host, or the Host from outside the Mess; and
• d. the official guest (or guests, as described in paragraph 9.76).

9.78

The Host's speech should always be short and in the style of an introduction to the speakers to follow.

9.79

When there is more than one official guest to speak it is suggested that the guests concerned be advised of the speaking order beforehand, so as to prevent any embarrassment on the evening.

9.80

When introducing a speaker initials and post-nominals are NOT used.

Withdrawal from the Table 9.81

At the appropriate time the Dining President will bang the gavel and call for the Dining Vice-President. The Vice-President will stand and call the Dinner to order by saying ‘Gentlemen (Ladies and Gentlemen); all members and guests stand. If Colours are present, however, the Dining President will bang the gavel and order ‘March-out the Colours'. All members and guests stand and the Colour party marches-in, recover the Colours, and marches-out

9.82

The Dining President invites the official guests and the members sitting at the ‘top' table to move-out for coffee in the ante room and they then withdraw from the dining room. Official guests, sitting at other tables, and the personal hosts to the official guests, also withdraw.

9.83

As soon as the President and the guests have left the dining room the Dining Vice-President automatically moves to the ‘top' table, taking the Dining Presidents seat; the remaining guests and members resume their seats. One in position the Vice-President invites a small number of people to also move to the ‘top' table.

9.84

After a short period of time, allowing for the President and official guests to be served coffee in the ante room, the Vice-President replaces the stopper in the port decanter, if the Dining President has not already done so, stands and invites those remaining to join the Dining President and official guests.

In the Ante Room 9.85

All members are to ensure that all guests, both official and unofficial, are looked after and entertained, and that no one is neglected. It is the responsibility of members to seek out and meet the official guests.

9.86

General participation in suitable games is acceptable but, members are not to behave boisterously or cause injury to either persons or property. Games that encourage the consumption of alcohol are not permitted.

The Departure of the Official Guests 9.87

Official guests should take care that they do not over stay their welcome, remembering that members and their guests can not depart until they have gone.

9–9

The Departure of the Members and Other Guests 9.88

Members are not to leave the mess until all the official guests have departed. When members leave they are to pay their respects to the Dining President, the PMC and the CO/RSM.

Other Services’ Traditions 9.89

At RAN dinners grace is said seated.

9.90

The Loyal Toast at RAN dinners is also conducted seated. The port decanter should not, if possible, leave the table (this includes when pouring the port; if this is not possible then the decanter should, if possible, touch the glass with the glass remaining on the table).

9.91

At RAAF dinners the conversation should be subdued during the passing of the port.

Annexes:

• A. Mess Dinner Seating With a Multi-leg Table Arrangement (Mixed Dinner)
• B. Mess Dinner Seating With a Multi-leg Table Arrangement (Members Only Dinner)
• C. Mess Dinner Seating With a Multi-leg Table Arrangement (Officers' Mess: Members Only
• Dinner)
• D. Mess Dinner Seating With a Single Table Arrangement (Mixed Dinner)
• E. Mess Dinner Seating With a Single Table Arrangement (Members Only Dinner)
• F. Mess Dinner Seating With a Single Table Arrangement (Officers' Mess: Members Only Dinner)

ANNEX A TO CHAPTER 9
MESS DINNER SEATING WITH A MULTI-LEG TABLE ARRANGEMENT (MIXED DINNER) A Notes

• 1. Dining President/Host.
• 2. Senior Guest.
• 3. Senior Guest's partner.
• 4. Dining President/Host's partner.
• 5. Second Senior Guest.
• 6. Second Senior Guest's partner.
• 7. Dining Vice-President.
• 8. Aide-de-Camp (if the senior guest is the Governor-General/state governor).
• 9. Lady-in-Waiting (if the senior guest is the Governor-General/state governor).
• 10. For a table arrangement with more than two legs the aide-de-camp and the lady-in-waiting would sit either 
• side, at the top, of the centre leg.
• 11. Other guests may be spread across the ‘Top Table', or positioned anywhere else within the seating plan.

ANNEX B TO CHAPTER 9
MESS DINNER SEATING WITH A MULTI-LEG TABLE ARRANGEMENT (MEMBERS ONLY DINNER) B Notes

• 1. Dining President/Host.
• 2. Senior Guest.
• 3. Second Senior Guest.
• 4. Dining Vice-President.
• 5. Other guests may be spread across the ‘Top Table', or positioned anywhere else within the seating
• plan.

ANNEX C TO CHAPTER 9
MESS DINNER SEATING WITH A MULTI-LEG TABLE ARRANGEMENT (OFFICERS’ MESS: MEMBERS ONLY DINNER) C Notes

• 1. Dining President/Host.
• 2. Senior Guest.
• 3. Second Senior Guest.
• 4. Commander/Commanding Officer.
• 5. Dining Vice-President.
• 6. Other guests may be spread across the ‘Top Table', or positioned anywhere else within the seating
• plan.

ANNEX D TO CHAPTER 9
MESS DINNER SEATING WITH A SINGLE TABLE ARRANGEMENT (MIXED DINNER) D Notes

• 1. Dining President/Host.
• 2. Senior Guest.
• 3. Senior Guest's partner.
• 4. Dining President/Host's partner.
• 5. Second Senior Guest.
• 6. Second Senior Guest's partner.
• 7. Dining Vice-President.
• 8. Other guests may be spread across the ‘Top Table', or positioned anywhere else within the seating plan.

ANNEX E TO CHAPTER 9
MESS DINNER SEATING WITH A SINGLE TABLE ARRANGEMENT (MEMBERS ONLY DINNER) E Notes

• 1. Dining President/Host.
• 2. Senior Guest.
• 3. Second Senior Guest.
• 4. Dining Vice-President.
• 5. Other guests may be spread across the ‘Top Table' or positioned anywhere else within the seating plan

ANNEX F TO CHAPTER 9
MESS DINNER SEATING WITH A SINGLE TABLE ARRANGEMENT (OFFICERS’ MESS: MEMBERS ONLY DINNER) F Notes

• 1. Dining President/Host.
• 2. Senior Guest.
• 3. Second Senior Guest.
• 4. Third Senior Guest.
• 5. Commander/Commanding Officer.
• 6. Dining Vice-President.
• 7. Other guests may be spread across the ‘Top Table', or positioned anywhere else within the seating plan.