The Western Morning News Tuesday 28th January 1941 Colin Spittle 24th March 1902 - 25th January 1988 Motor omnibus conductor residing 38 Studfield Hill, Sheffied 29.9.1939
Spital and Spittle were middle English shortened forms of hospital. The conductor's ancestor probably worked or lived in a hospital as a spittleman - bit like a porter - see Spitalfields London In medieval times hospitals were essentially guest houses for the monasteries and an aid for travellers providing safe accommodation along the roads.
The German mannerism of clicking heels on an introduction is a practice originating from the Germanic military. I have seen it as a social practice in Denmark. It certainly identifies a person's national background but is probably a practice that is dying out for the young. Some might recollect that an American trait is to use a knife and fork to cut up a plate meal but then only use the fork to eat with, while the British tend to place the knife and fork neatly together on the completion of a plate meal, other non Brits tend not to do so.
