1. In which year was the Royal Air Force formed, as the world's first independent air force?
2. Which branch of the British armed forces is known as "the Senior Service"?
3. What nickname is given to members of the Royal Marines, from the leather collars once worn by marines?
4. Which Scots Guards officer founded the SAS in 1941?
5. What do the letters SBS stand for in the British special forces?
6. According to tradition, Victoria Crosses are cast from the bronze of guns captured in which war?
7. How many Victoria Crosses were awarded for the defence of Rorke's Drift in 1879?
8. What is the name of the curved knife carried by Gurkha soldiers?
9. What is the name of the Royal Navy's largest ever warship, an aircraft carrier commissioned in 2017?
10. Which aircraft have the Red Arrows flown since 1980?
11. In which Devon town is the Royal Navy's officer training college?
12. In which US state is West Point, the US Military Academy?
13. What is the motto of the US Marine Corps, meaning "always faithful"?
14. The Royal Navy rank of Admiral of the Fleet is equivalent to which British Army rank?
15. A lieutenant in the Royal Navy is equivalent to which rank in the British Army?
16. British soldiers were nicknamed "Tommies" after a sample name used on army forms. What was the full name?
17. Which fighter plane shot down more enemy aircraft in the Battle of Britain, the Spitfire or the Hurricane?
18. What is the name of Germany's armed forces, founded in 1955?
19. Which small army has guarded the pope since 1506?
20. Which king founded the Royal Hospital Chelsea for old soldiers, the "Chelsea Pensioners"?
ANSWERS
1. 1918 (on 1 April)
2. The Royal Navy
3. Bootnecks
4. David Stirling
5. Special Boat Service
6. The Crimean War (from guns captured at Sevastopol)
Research has suggested the metal actually comes from Chinese-made guns, possibly captured during the Crimean War, though the tradition remains.
7. 11
8. The kukri
9. HMS Queen Elizabeth
Her sister ship, HMS Prince of Wales, is the same size.
10. The BAE Systems Hawk
11. Dartmouth (Britannia Royal Naval College)
12. New York
13. Semper Fidelis
14. Field Marshal
15. Captain
16. Tommy Atkins
17. The Hurricane
There were more Hurricanes than Spitfires in service, and they shot down more aircraft, although the Spitfire became the more famous symbol of the battle.
18. The Bundeswehr
19. The Swiss Guard (the Pontifical Swiss Guard)
20. Charles II
How was this quiz?
Thank you, that helps Paul balance future quizzes.