Retirement

Retirement, in the Navy and Army, is the withdrawal from service of commissioned officers with the retention of more or less of their pay.

Retirement may be either voluntary after the completion of a certain number of years' service, or compulsory at a later date, the period being fixed from time to time by Royal Warrant or other authority. In the Army voluntary retirement is possible after 12 years' service for officers below the rank of Major-General, and is compulsory at ages fixed according to rank. In the Navy Admirals and Vice-Admirals must retire at 65, Rear-Admirals at 60, Captains at 55, Commanders at 50, and Lieutenants at 45, and they may retire at option five years earlier respectively.