Sentence:  A list of new titles was manufactured as follows: "Ensign", "Lieutenant", "Flight-Leader", "Squadron-Leader", <WSD>"Reeve</WSD>", "Banneret", "Fourth-Ardian", "Third-Ardian", "Second-Ardian", "Ardian", "Air Marshal". ... “<WSD>Reeve</WSD>”, perhaps, savoured a little too much of legal authority. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  The holder of a (proposed) but (unadopted) commissioned (rank) of the (Royal Air Force), equivalent to (wing commander).