Possible Clues:

• Ingratiating, writing back to host
• Butters up Lord, being this?
• Obsequious NCO standing in front of troops
• Like an emcee who's overdoing it
• Soldiers find sergeant major over them ingratiating
• Slick sergeant major leading battle group
• Obsequious host, society male to the fore
• “In Oppley they’re smart, and in Stouch they’re ____, but Midwich folk are just plain barmy’ (John Wyndham)
• Smug and ingratiating
• Flattering, in a greasy way