1 FEBRUARY 1992, Page 25

Sir sincerity

Sir: I do not know whether Simon Cour- tauld underwent army officer training (`To Sir or not to Sir', 4 January), but if he did do so, he would be well aware of further nuances in the use of Sir.

Brigade of Guards sergeant-majors would, and I am sure still do, address their platoons in the following way: 'You call me Sir and I call you Sir, the difference being that you mean it and I do not.'

S. C. Enderby

The Riding, Hexham, Northumberland