non-com

When Jimmy joined the colors first, he knowed that soon he'd beA non-com.

He was thought to be a "deffle of a dog" in the mess, where the non-com officers had tea at small writing and card tables.

When a "non-com" vacancy occurred, the man suggested by Black Pete was usually selected to fill it.

In short, Black Pete Spooner was such a treasure of a "non-com" as gave his superiors food for mess-table boasting.

Sergeant-major Spooner felt the time ripe for him to cross the line from non-com to commissioned officer.