Mess Dinners Will Include Parents and Guests
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2672 Hastings & Prince Edward Regiment Royal Canadian Army Cadets Corps Peterborough Mess/Mixed Dinner Handbook This handbook is a compilation of the traditions of the Hastings & Prince Edward Regiment and other army mess dinner traditions not used by the Hasty P’s. http://regimentalrogue.com/ GENERAL 1. Normally, there will be only one Officers' Mess on a base, in which case the Base Commander, or his representative, will occupy the senior position at the mess dinner. In the event that a particular unit holds a mess dinner, the unit Commanding Officer will fill the senior position. Thus, although the term "Base Commander" is used throughout this chapter, it should be interpreted to read "Commanding Officer" when the mess dinner is a unit function. For the purpose of a cadet mess dinner, the term “Officer” means Officers, Civilian Instructors/Volunteers, Cadet NCO’s, and Junior Cadets. 2672 Mixed/Mess dinners will include parents and guests. PURPOSE 2. Mess dinners originated about 200 years ago, the purpose being the same then as it is now: to afford the opportunity for seniors and juniors to meet on a friendly but formal occasion; and, to enable the officer in command to speak to his officers as a group. The traditional formality of the dinner fosters a fellowship which would be lacking at less formal functions. 3. Some units, bases, ships or the services of other nations have highly individualized customs and traditions quite different from those of your own mess. When entertaining guests, a prior brief explanation of your own idiosyncrasies is a courtesy that is normally greatly appreciated and reduces the potential for embarrassment. ATTENDANCE 4. Although officers meet in the mess on a footing of social equality, it nevertheless must be understood that a mess dinner is a formal parade. Officers will be excused only by their Commanding Officer or equivalent (PMC) for good or substantial reasons. DRESS 5. The dress to be worn at dinner will be specified well in advance and indicated on the invitation. Serving officers wear either Mess Kit or CF Mess Dress at dinner, depending on unit tradition. Retired officers may wear either Mess Dress (with permission of the officer commanding a Command) or appropriate civilian formal attire with miniature medals. Cadets will wear C-6, Same as C-1, except that of white collar dress shirt with a black bowtie, replacing the uniform tie. Recruits will wear their designated recruit uniform if not issued one yet. 6. Officers of other services wear the appropriate equivalent of Mess Dress. Civilian guests wear appropriate semi-formal attire while lady guests wear formal evening dress. BEFORE DINNER (ASSEMBLY) 7. Invitations to dinner will be worded "1700 for 1800" as an example. This period is designed meet and greet allowing hosting officers to peruse the seating plan, seek out and identify their guests, and introduce themselves. Hosts should be there 10 minutes prior to the starting time. The remainder of the time can then be comfortably spent partaking of a beverage with friends before dinner. 8. When the Base Commander and/or the senior guest arrives, all members shall rise as a form of courtesy. If the arrival of the Base Commander and/or senior guest should be unnoticed by some, the PMC or any other senior officer present should attract attention by discreetly calling "Gentlemen". The dining room is laid out as follows; 9. Behind the head table and centred is the crossed flags of the unit, if possible or standing upright at each end - the Canadian flag and the Corps banner. Between them is the Son Of Little Chief, if possible. The table is shaped as a hollow square with a leg or legs down the center if extra seating is required. The Table Of The Fallen Comrade, ideally, is in front of the head table and centred. Fifteen minutes before dinner guests will be advised that they have fifteen minutes to finish their drinks, go to the washroom, fix their tie, etc. They then proceed to the dining room door and wait for the head table to be piped in. The guests of the head table head the procession and stand behind their chair. Before each place setting at the Mess table will be a small card displaying the diners name. This is provided as an aide to finding one's seat. Cards are very simple, of white card stock with typewritten names. Place cards have another role. They are often used to pass a note down the table, usually intended for the PMC, though any note passed along the table may be read, minuted, or shanghaied by the intervener. (Notes of importance which must reach the PMC are best sent via the Mess Steward.) In any case, the presumption made on receiving any such note is that it originated with the diner whose place card it originally was. It is for this reason that diners may see others at the dinner immediately pocket their own place cards, a cautionary act often carried out by those who have a history of employing others' cards to send less than complimentary messages. SEATING PLAN 10. The seating for a mess dinner is formally arranged, and a plan is drawn up and displayed. Individual places at the table are marked with a name card. a. Shifting of places is not permitted b. Guests sit to the right of their hosts. If an officer is hosting two guests he sits between them. If he has more than two guests the host should have his guests disposed on either side of him in two groups. c. Guests should not sit beside each other if it can be avoided. Once everyone has taken their place the VPMC advises the PMC that everyone is present - “Mr. President, all diners are present” The PMC now asks for grace to be said “Padre or (Name), would you offer the blessing” A simple blessing is given such as “For what we are about to receive, thank God”, diners will reply “Amen”. Now all diners take their seat. The PMC now calls for the piper and the Chief Steward brings two poured dinks in a silver cup to the PMC who offers a toast to the piper. No other diner takes part in this ritual and quietly observes. Dinner is now served. Because the dinner is a formal function, special rules will be observed. These include that no diner may: MESS DINNER ETIQUETTE 11. Officers shall not smoke from the time of assembly until permission is granted by the PMC following the Loyal Toast. This rule may be occasionally waived as noted in the preceding paragraphs. 12. Every officer must ensure that all guests are being properly hosted. Although guests are normally greeted in the foyer by the Base Commander, CO and PMC, officers must come forward and assist guests in obtaining no expenses of their own. 13. Since a mess dinner is a formal function, protocol dictates that officers’ conduct themselves in a manner befitting the occasion. To ensure that all members are afforded the same opportunity to enjoy the evening in the good company of their fellow officer’s, members are reminded that it is considered poor taste to: a. commence any dish before the PMC, who will likely pause until the head table has been served; b. discuss political or other controversial subjects; c. act in a boisterous manner; d. propose a toast; e. talk after the PMC summons attention until he has finished speaking; and f. leave the table during the meal unless permitted to do so by the PMC. EATING A MEAL 14. A mess dinner is a formal, multi-course meal. You will be confronted by a formal place setting with your cutlery and several glasses, one of which will already be full of a beverage and another with water. Before proceeding with the actual dinner a couple of general points must be emphasized. Keep your elbows off the table! A mess dinner is not a race; relax and enjoy it. Do not shovel your food into your mouth. Do not gulp your water and beverages. As far as which knife or fork to use - start at the outside and work in. At the conclusion of the meal, all china, silverware, placemats, flowers, and glasses, with the exception of the port glass, will be removed from the table. If you failed to finish something because you ran out of time, surrender it to the wait staff with grace. The Commanding Officer will have previously selected senior cadets or members of the Regiment/Guests to offer toasts. 2672 staff will serve all cadets their main course meal, symbolic for their dedication and loyalty to their cadets. Toasts 15. Once the tables are cleared the PMC stands, raps his gavel and requests “Mr. Vice, The Queen of Canada”. The Vice stands and replies, “La Reine du Canada”. All diners stand, leaving their glasses on the table, and God Save The Queen is played. When the music stops, all diners pick up glasses and respond “The Queen”. Commissioned Officers add “God Bless Her”. Next is the toast to the Colonel In Chief - “To our Colonel In Chief, His Royal Highness, The Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward” Diners stand and reply “To the Colonel In Chief”. Next, the toast to the Regiment by a Regimental member present. No specific toast is prepared, the member is free to make this toast up. Diners stand and reply “To the Regiment” Now we have the toast to the White Battalion by a Regimental Association member present. Again, there is no predetermined script for this toast and the member should feel free to say whatever he likes.