Reminder of Willis Hall's early play, premiered at Royal Court Theatre 1959, set in WWii Burma: title — The Long and the Short and the Tall.

The rank WO1 [Warrant Officer 1st Class] would include Staff Sergeant Majors, &c, as well as the great RSM himself. Their insignia would be the Royal coat-of-arms worn on the forearm. WO2's would have a crown there, if a Company Sergeant Major, or a crown in a wreath if a Staff Quartermaster Sergeant — there were various ranks designated Warrant Officers. They were entitled to be called 'Sir' by other ranks {privates & NCOs}, and addressed as 'Mr So-and-so' by officers'. WO1s were allowed to wear the soft-topped service-dress cap generally associated with officers. They were not, however, entitled to salutes from lower ranks.

"Corporals and their blooming sons", I always presumed, referred to corporals addressing the rankers under their command in such terms as "Come on, my sons; let's be having you; get fell in!" - or some such