Salute which hand

This apparently ended in the 18th Century because of concerns over excessive wear to headgear or hats becoming more cumbersome. A British order book states: "The men are ordered not to pull off their hats when they pass an officer, or to speak to them, but only to clap up their hands to their hats and bow as they pass.

The Royal Navy, however, adopted a version with the palm facing downwards, thought to be because many men working on ships had dirty palms and to display them was disrespectful. The salute works both as a mark of recognition for the Queen's commission awarded to officers and for seniority of rank, says Simon Lamb, of the British Veterans Recognition Card group. The following explanation of the origin of the hand salute is perhaps closest to the truth: It was a long-established military custom for juniors to remove their headgear in the presence of superiors.

In the British Army as late as the American Revolution a soldier saluted bv removing his hat. From there it finally became conventionalized into something resembling our modern hand salute. It is a mark of mutual respect and acts as a reminder to both parties that they are soldiers and that they each have responsibilities to the other. Always try to carry items in your left hand if possible so you can salute.

Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Press ESC to cancel. Ben Davis April 30, Is it OK to salute with your left hand? Do you salute with your right or left hand? Image via Giphy 7. The River Phoenix look-a-like Independence Day. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.