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Two "Middies" having a smoke.
Commonwealth countries, which use the rank, include Australia, Bangladesh, Namibia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lank and Kenya. The Rank was also used, prior to 1968, by the Royal Canadian Navy, but, upon the creation of the Canadian Forces, the Rank of Midshipman was replaced with the Rank of Naval Cadet.
A "Between Maid" (nickname "Tweeny", also called "Hall Girl", particularly in the United States) is a female junior Domestic Worker in a large Household with many Staff. The position became largely defunct in the 20th-Century, as few Households needed, or could afford, great retinues of Domestic Workers, with the elaborate hierarchy of the past.
The term "Hall Girl" came from her chief duty, which was waitressing in the Servants' Hall. She was required to set the table and remove the dishes, as well as waiting at table. She may also have carried meals up to the Head Housekeeper, if that Head of Staff did things like have Breakfast, or Afternoon Tea, in her Room(s).
The term "Between Maid" came from the fact that her duties were split between the area of responsibilities of the Housekeeper, Butler and Cook. If these individuals did not like one another, the job of the "Between Maid" was a very difficult one.
A "Between Maid" should not be mistaken with a Parlour Maid, though both Maids had similar Household Duties. The Parlour Maids cleaned and tidied Reception Rooms, and Living Areas, in the mornings, and often served refreshments at Afternoon Tea, and sometimes also served Dinner. They tidied Studies and Libraries and (with Footmen) answered Bells that were calling for Service.
The "Between Maids" were roughly equivalent to Scullery Maids (Dishwashers, Floor Scrubbers, Oven Minders, etc.) and were often paid less. The "Between Maids" in a large Household waited on the Senior Servants (Butler, Housekeeper, Cook) and were, therefore, answerable to all three Department Heads, often leading to friction in their employment.
Two well-turned-out "Tweenies".
Image: TEA AND A GOOD BOOK
The term "Hall Girl" came from her chief duty, which was waitressing in the Servants' Hall. She was required to set the table and remove the dishes, as well as waiting at table. She may also have carried meals up to the Head Housekeeper, if that Head of Staff did things like have Breakfast, or Afternoon Tea, in her Room(s).
The term "Between Maid" came from the fact that her duties were split between the area of responsibilities of the Housekeeper, Butler and Cook. If these individuals did not like one another, the job of the "Between Maid" was a very difficult one.
A "Between Maid" should not be mistaken with a Parlour Maid, though both Maids had similar Household Duties. The Parlour Maids cleaned and tidied Reception Rooms, and Living Areas, in the mornings, and often served refreshments at Afternoon Tea, and sometimes also served Dinner. They tidied Studies and Libraries and (with Footmen) answered Bells that were calling for Service.
The "Between Maids" were roughly equivalent to Scullery Maids (Dishwashers, Floor Scrubbers, Oven Minders, etc.) and were often paid less. The "Between Maids" in a large Household waited on the Senior Servants (Butler, Housekeeper, Cook) and were, therefore, answerable to all three Department Heads, often leading to friction in their employment.
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