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Ranks
This page contains the ranks of:
Royal Navy
Royal Navy Officers
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Rank |
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Admiral of the Fleet |
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Admiral |
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Vice Admiral |
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Rear Admiral |
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Commodore |
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Captain |
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Staff-Captain |
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Commander |
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Staff Commander |
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Lieutenant |
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Navigating Lieutenant |
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Sub Lieutenant |
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Chief Gunner |
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Chief Boatswain |
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Gunner |
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Boatswain |
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Midshipman |
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Naval Cadet |
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Royal Navy Ratings
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Rank |
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Chief Petty Officer |
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Petty Officer 1st Class |
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Petty Officer 2nd Class |
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Leading Seaman |
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Able Seaman |
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Ordinary Seaman |
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Boy 1st Class |
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Boy 2nd Class |
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Royal Marines
Royal Marines units were either Royal Marine Artillery (RMA) or Royal
Marine Light Infantry (RMLI). Royal Marines came under the Royal
Navy when at sea but when ashore during the Boer War they came under the
Army Act. The Royal Marines ranked 50th in order of
precedence as they were raised in 1755. Royal Marine officers'
ranks were senior to those of the Army.
Royal Marine Officers
| Rank |
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| Lieutenant Colonel |
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| Major |
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| Captain |
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| 1st Lieutenant |
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| 2nd Lieutenant |
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Royal Marine Other Ranks
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Rank |
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Sergeant Major |
Artillery and Light Infantry |
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Colour Sergeant |
Artillery and Light Infantry |
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Sergeant |
Artillery and Light Infantry |
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Corporal |
Artillery and Light Infantry |
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Bombardier |
Artillery |
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Gunner |
Artillery |
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Gunner 2nd Class |
Artillery |
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Private |
Light Infantry |
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Bugler |
Artillery and Light Infantry |
Army
Army ranks - Officers
| Rank |
Typical command of |
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| Field Marshal |
Army |
| General |
Army or Army Corps |
| Lieutenant General |
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| Major General |
Brigade |
| Brigadier General |
Cavalry Brigade |
| Colonel |
Staff appointment |
| Lieutenant Colonel |
Cavalry regiment, artillery brigade or infantry Battalion |
| Major |
Cavalry squadron, artillery battery or infantry company |
| Captain |
Cavalry squadron or troop, artillery battery second-in-command
or infantry company |
| Lieutenant |
Cavalry troop, artillery section or infantry platoon |
| 2nd Lieutenant |
Cavalry troop, artillery section or infantry platoon |
Notes:
- General - The King used to be the titular 'general' in command of
the army but after the battle of Dettingen in 1743, the last time an
English king led an army into battle, the title of general was assumed
by the person nominated by the King to command the army.
- Lieutenant General - The second in command of the army, often a
field commander. This person could serve in 'lieu' of the general
hence 'Lieu¬tenant' General.
- Major General - The army used to be commanded by an experienced
professional soldier, called a 'Sergeant Major' General. The
prefix was omitted leaving the rank of Major General.
- Colonel - In 1505, King Ferdinand of Spain created a sub division
within the army called a column (colunela in Spanish). The
officers in charge of the columns were called Chiefs of Columns (cabo di
colunela). The rank of Colonel comes from the Spanish.
- Brevet ranks - The rank of brevet was a special award for
distinguished service. A brevet was not issued below the rank of
Major or above the rank of Colonel. An individual's army seniority
came from his brevet rank, while his regimental seniority came from his
substantive rank. For example, Lord Dundonald was, at one point, a
Major in the 2nd Life Guards, but a Lieutenant-Colonel in the army.
When he found himself in command of a force that included his own
regiment it could be a potentially difficult situation. He said 'I
have never liked commanding my own Colonel, and told him so, but he was
always very good about it and did not seem to mind!' General Sir
George Colley was appointed Brevet Colonel for services in the Ashanti
War but, when he returned to his regiment, he resumed the rank of
Captain.
Army NCOs and men
| Rank |
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Regimental Sergeant Major |
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Warrant Officer |
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Master Gunner 3rd Class |
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Army Schoolmaster |
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Militia Sergeant Major |
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Quartermaster-Corporal Major or
Quartermaster-Sergeant Major |
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Squadron Corporal Major or Squadron,
Battery, Troop or Company Sergeant Major |
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Squadron Quartermaster Corporal or
Squadron, Battery, Troop or Company Quartermaster Sergeant |
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| Colour Sergeant |
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| Staff Corporal or Staff Sergeant |
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| Corporal of Horse or Sergeant |
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| Corporal Bombardier or 2nd Corporal |
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| Gunner, Driver, Sapper, Pioneer or Private |
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Notes:
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There is an important
distinction to be made between ranks and appointment. A rank could have
several appointments. For example, the appointment of bandmaster,
Conductor or Sergeant major would relate to a rank of Warrant Officer,
the appointment of Paymaster Sergeant or Orderly Room Sergeant would
relate to the rank of Sergeant.
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The Household Cavalry does
not have the rank 'Sergeant'. Its 'Corporal' is equivalent to the rest
of the army's 'Sergeant'.
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Some ranks are specific to
the unit ie Conductor - Army Ordnance Corps, Gunner - Royal Artillery,
Driver - Royal Artillery, Army Service Corps, sapper - Royal Engineers,
Pioneer - Royal Engineers (rank), Infantry (appointment), Private -
Cavalry, Infantry (including Household Cavalry and Foot Guards)
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The rank of Trooper is seen
in Colonial units and in the Imperial Yeomanry but did not appear in the
Regular Army until 1909.
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