Re: The Oath Of Allegiance?
Originally Posted by
Tedc
->
I don't know if it is still current practice, but it was, once, necessary, on joining the Armed Forces, for example, to swear to uphold the Oath of Allegiance.
"All persons enlisting or commissioning in the British Armed Forces, except Royal Navy Officers, are required to attest to the following oath or equivalent affirmation:"
"
I... swear by Almighty God (do solemnly, and truly declare and affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will, as in duty bound, honestly and faithfully defend Her Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, in Person, Crown and Dignity against all enemies, and will observe and obey all orders of Her Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, and of the (admirals / generals/ air officers) and officers set over me. (So help me God.)
Until recently no oath of allegiance was sworn by members of the Royal Navy,[29] which is not maintained under an Act of Parliament but by the royal prerogative. This is still the case for officers as, by nature of the Navy's authority deriving from the Crown and not Parliament, the loyalty of naval officers to the Sovereign is taken for granted.[citation needed]"
In it's day, would a serving Soldier be required to stand by that oath, for the rest of his/her life?
As far as I know it only applies while a member of the Defence Force, when my kids joined the RAN they had to swear allegiance in the following terms:
I, (name), promise that I will well and truly serve Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her Heirs and Successors according to law, as a member of the Royal Australian Navy and that I will resist Her enemies and faithfully discharge my duty according to law.
If they were religious then they would say the same thing but with a mention of god and a Bible, Koran or other holy book of their choice.
It is different for new citizens. At their naturalisation ceremony a new citizens says:
From this time forward, [under God,]
I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people,
whose democratic beliefs I share,
whose rights and liberties I respect, and
whose laws I will uphold and obey.
The prospective citizen has the option of making the pledge with or without the words "under God".