Listed in the table below are the rank insignia of the British Army. Badges for field officers were introduced in 1810 and the insignia was moved to the epaulettes in 1880. On ceremonial or parade uniforms these ranks continue to be worn on the epaulettes, either as cloth slides or as metal clips, although on the modern 'working dress' (daily uniform) they are usually worn as a cloth slide on the chest. Although these insignia apply across the British Army there is variation in the precise design and colours used and it can take some time to become familiar with them all.
Officers in the ranks of lieutenant and second lieutenant are often referred to as subalterns and these and captains are also referred to as company officers. Brigadiers, colonels, lieutenant colonels and majors are field officers. All above these are considered to be of general officer rank.
Ranks
The standard star design (colloquially known as a 'pip') is the Bath star, based on the star of a Knight Grand Cross Military Division of the Order of the Bath but with two of the star's three small crowns uppermost and without the motto of the Prince of Wales, , underneath. Officers of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment and the Royal Welsh wear a slightly different design known as the Eversleigh star which includes the motto. Officers of the Household Division and the Honourable Artillery Company wear stars based on those of the orders of the Garter, the Thistle and St Patrick. Buttons shown for all except field marshals and general officers vary by regiment.
The sword points to the general officer's front when worn on the shoulders and to the officer's right shoulder (to the viewer's left, as shown) when worn as a front rank slide.
!Typical command appointment
!Typical time taken for a promotion
|-
|Officer cadet
|colspan=2| No command
| N/A
|-
|Second lieutenant
|rowspan=2|35 soldiers
|rowspan=2|Platoon/troop
|After completing officer training
|-
|Lieutenant
|Up to 2 years after reaching second lieutenant rank
|-
|Captain
|Between 50 and 120 soldiers
|rowspan=2|Company/battery/squadron
|After 3 years of commissioned service
|-
|Major
|Up to 120 soldiers and officers
|After being in the army for between 8 and 10 years
|-
|Lieutenant colonel
|Up to 650 soldiers and officers
|Battalion/regiment/battlegroup
|rowspan=7| N/A
|-
|Colonel
|Field command in the Royal Army Medical Corps
|Staff officers
|-
|Brigadier
|colspan=2|Brigade or director of staff
|-
|Major general
|colspan=2|Division
|-
|Lieutenant-general
|colspan=2|Corps
|-
|General
|colspan=2|Most senior rank
|-
|Field marshal
|colspan=2|Currently an honorary rank
|-
|}
Star plates
thumb|A [[staff car of Field Marshal Montgomery displaying a star plate]]
Motor cars carrying field marshals, general officers and brigadiers (and their equivalents in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force) on official duties may bear a star plate, with the number of stars reflecting the rank of the officer. The plates must be covered when the officer is not in the vehicle. The colour of the star plate is red for officers of the British Army and Royal Marines, although officers in joint service appointments use a star plate in the joint service colours, which consists of three vertical bands of royal blue, red and air force blue. Star plates may also be displayed on Army aircraft.
{| class="wikitable defaultcenter"
|+ British Army star plates
- Field Marshal: Cross baton and wreath designed device was on epaulettes and buttons were evenly spaced .
- General: Cross baton and sword with crown designed device on the epaulettes and buttons were evenly spaced.
- Lieutenant General: Cross baton and sword with crown designed device on the epaulettes and buttons were in threes.
- Major General: Cross baton and sword with crown designed device on the epaulettes and buttons were in twos.
- Brigadier General: No device on the epaulettes and buttons were in two.
After the Crimean War (30 January 1855), the War Office ordered different rank badges for British general, staff officers and regimental officers. King Charles III reinstated the Tudor Crown in 2022 and it was rolled out onto British Army uniforms in time for his coronation in 2023.
|}
Initially company and field rank insignia did not appear on officers' uniforms. In 1791 the War Office ordered officers to wear different graded epaulettes and wings to distinguish regimental officer ranks (Colonel to Ensign/ Cornet). This was ordered only for line infantry officers. According to the Army Order,
- Field officers (Colonel, Lieutenant-Colonel and Major) wore epaulettes on both shoulders.
- Company officers (Captain, Captain-Lieutenant, Lieutenant and Ensign / 2nd Lieutenant) of centre companies wore a single epaulette on right shoulder only.
- Grenadier and Light companies Captain and Subalterns wore wings on both shoulders.
In 1795, a special pattern of epaulettes was ordered for Fusiliers and Light Infantry officers. Field officers of those regiments wore epaulettes over wings. Company officers wore wings.
A specific system of rank insignia for field officers probably existed beginning from the 1790s. This is suggested by a General Order of the HEIC dated 21 July 1796: It was ordered that lieutenant colonels had to wear one six-pointed star in the centre of the strap of both epaulettes, while colonels had two stars on the epaulettes' strap (majors had no insiagnia). Presumably the HEIC followed one of the uniform regulations of the British Army, which it usually adopted very quickly after its publication.
In February 1810, an order was issued by the War Office to distinguish Field officer ranks. The following devices were introduced in the epaulettes:
- Colonel: Crown and Garter star
- Lieutenant Colonel: Crown
- Major: Garter star
These badges were issued for all infantry regiments except the Foot Guards. In 1815, badges for Foot Guards were ordered. In Foot Guards regiments, all Field Officers were equivalent to the Colonels of line infantry regiments. Captains were equivalent to Lieutenant Colonels, Lieutenants were equivalent to Majors and Ensigns were equivalent to Captains of Battalion companies.
- Field Officers: Crown and star (Grenadier Guards and Coldstream Guards used the Garter star, and Scots Fusilier Guards used the Thistle star).
- Captain: Crown
- Lieutenant: Star
- Ensign: No device. (Ensigns of the Grenadier Guards wore epaulettes on both shoulders, but the Ensigns of the other two regiments wore a single epaulette on the right shoulder.)
In 1829, epaulettes and wings were standardised by maintaining the badges of rank issued in 1810 and 1815. According to the order, epaulettes of all regular infantry regiments and foot guards regiments would be in gold and other regiments were in silver. All officers including field and company officers wore epaulettes and wings on both shoulders. The epaulettes over wings system was abolished. Different graded officer wore different sized bullion to distinguish themselves from other.
- Colonel: Epaulette bullions were three and half inches in length. Insignia was a Crown and a Bath star.
- Lieutenant Colonel: Epaulette bullions were three and half inches in length. Insignia was a Crown.
- Major: Epaulette bullions were three inches in length. Insignia was a Bath star.
- Captain of Battalion company: Epaulette bullion were two and half inches in length. No insignia device.
- Subaltern of Battalion company: Epaulette bullion were two inches in length. No insignia device.
- Captain of Flank companies: Wings bullions were one and quarter inches in length and half inches in wide.
- Subalterns of Flank companies: Wings bullions were one and quarter inches in length and quarter inches in wide.
In January 1855, at the end of the Crimean War, the War Office abolished all epaulette and wing rank badges. New rank badges were introduced in the collar. It was first time that a complete set of rank badges was used by the British Army.
- Colonel: Two rows of half inch laces in collar with Crown and Bath star.
- Lieutenant Colonel: Two rows of half inch laces in collar with Crown.
- Major: Two rows of half inch laces in collar with Bath star.
- Captain: One row of half inch lace on the top of collar with Crown and Bath star.
- Lieutenant: One row of half inch lace on the top of collar with Crown.
- Ensign/Sub Lieutenant: One row of half inch lace on the top of collar with Bath star.
In April 1880, rank badges were moved from collar to shoulder and officers of all regiments wore the following rank badges.
- Colonel: Crown and two Bath stars.
- Lieutenant Colonel: Crown and one Bath star
- Major: Crown
- Captain: Two Bath stars
- Lieutenant: One Bath star
- Second Lieutenant: No device
thumb|The rank insignia for officers are also differentiated by what specific stars are used.<br />Left to right: Grenadier, Coldstream, and Welsh Guards (Garter); Scots Guards (Thistle); Irish Guards (Shamrock); other army officers (Bath).
In May 1902, rank badges were moved to sleeve's cuff and company-grade officer badges were slightly modified:
- Captain: Three Bath stars
- Lieutenant: Two Bath stars
- Second Lieutenant: One Bath star
In 1919, a new order was issued by the Horse Guards office—all Guards officers would wear special star badges.
- Grenadier Guards: Garter star
- Coldstream Guards: Garter star
- Scots Guards: Thistle star
- Irish Guards: Shamrock star
- Welsh Guards: Garter star
During World War I, some officers took to wearing tunics with the rank badges on the shoulder, as the cuff badges made them too conspicuous to snipers. This practice was frowned on outside the trenches but was given official sanction in 1917 as an optional alternative, being made permanent in 1920, when the cuff badges were abolished.
Historical insignia
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
|- style="background-color:#CCCCCC;"
! Rank group
! colspan=1| Field marshals
! colspan=4| General officers
! colspan=4| Field officers
! colspan=4| Junior officers
! Officer cadets
|- style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan=2| (~1767–1810)
| 50px|Field Marshal
| 50px|General
| 50px|Lieutenant-General
| 50px|Major-General
| 50px|Brigadier-General
|
| 100px|Colonel
| 100px|Lieutenant-Colonel
| 100px|Major
| 100px|Adjutant
| 100px|Captain
| 100px|Lieutenant
| 100px|Ensign (rank)
| 50px
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Field marshal
| General
| Lieutenant-general
| Major-general
| Brigadier-general
|
| Colonel
| Lieutenant-colonel
| Major
| Adjutant
| Captain
| Lieutenant
| Ensign
| Officer cadet
|- style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan=2| (~1810–1855)
| 50px|Field Marshal
| 50px|General
| 50px|Lieutenant-General
| 50px|Major-General
| 50px|Brigadier-General
| 50px|Colonel on the staff
| 100px|Colonel
| 100px|Lieutenant-Colonel
| 100px|Major
| 100px|Adjutant
| 100px|Captain
| 100px|Lieutenant
| 100px|Ensign (rank)
| 50px
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Field marshal
| General
| Lieutenant-general
| Major-general
| Brigadier-general
| Colonel on the staff
| Colonel
| Lieutenant-colonel
| Major
| Adjutant
| Captain
| Lieutenant
| Ensign
| Officer cadet
|- style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan=1| (1855–1864)
| 100px|Field Marshal
| 100px|General
| 100px|Lieutenant-General
| 100px|Major-General
| 100px|Brigadier
|
| 100px|Colonel
| 100px|Lieutenant-Colonel
| 100px|Major
|
| 100px|Captain
| 100px|Lieutenant
| 100px|Second Lieutenant
| 50px
|- style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan=1| (1864–1867)
| 100px|Field Marshal
| 100px|General
| 100px|Lieutenant-General
| 100px|Major-General
| 100px|Brigadier
|
| 100px|Colonel
| 100px|Lieutenant-Colonel
| 100px|Major
|
| 100px|Captain
| 100px|Lieutenant
| 100px|Second Lieutenant
| 50px
|- style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan=1| (1867–1880)
| 100px|Field Marshal
| 100px|General
| 100px|Lieutenant-General
| 100px|Major-General
| 100px|Brigadier
|
| 100px|Colonel
| 100px|Lieutenant-Colonel
| 100px|Major
|
| 100px|Captain
| 100px|Lieutenant
| 100px|Second Lieutenant
| 50px
|- style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan=1|
| Field marshal
| General
| Lieutenant-general
| Major-general
| Brigadier-general
|
| Colonel
| Lieutenant-colonel
| Major
|
| Captain
| Lieutenant
| Second lieutenant
| Officer cadet
|- style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan=2| (1880–1902)
| 50px|Field Marshal
| 50px|General
| 50px|Lieutenant-General
| 50px|Major-General
| 50px|Brigadier
|
| 30px|Colonel
| 30px|Lieutenant-Colonel
| 30px|Major
|
| 30px|Captain
| 30px|Lieutenant
| 30px|Second Lieutenant
| 50px
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Field marshal
| General
| Lieutenant-general
| Major-general
| Brigadier-general
|
| Colonel
| Lieutenant-colonel
| Major
|
| Captain
| Lieutenant
| Second lieutenant
| Officer cadet
|- style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan=2| (1902–1920)
| 50px|Field Marshal
| 50px|General
| 50px|Lieutenant-General
| 50px|Major-General
| 50px|Brigadier
|
| 50px|Colonel
| 50px|Lieutenant-Colonel
| 50px|Major
|
| 50px|Captain
| 50px|Lieutenant
| 50px|Second Lieutenant
| 50px
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Field marshal
| General
| Lieutenant-general
| Major-general
| Brigadier-general
|
| Colonel
| Lieutenant-colonel
| Major
|
| Captain
| Lieutenant
| Second lieutenant
| Officer cadet
|- style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan=2| (1920–1921)
| 50px|Field Marshal
| 50px|General
| 50px|Lieutenant-General
| 50px|Major-General
| 50px|Brigadier
|
| 50px|Colonel
| 50px|Lieutenant-Colonel
| 50px|Major
|
| 50px|Captain
| 50px|Lieutenant
| 50px|Second Lieutenant
| 50px|Officer Cadet
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Field marshal
| General
| Lieutenant-general
| Major-general
| Brigadier-general
|
| Colonel
| Lieutenant-colonel
| Major
|
| Captain
| Lieutenant
| Second lieutenant
| Officer cadet
|- style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan=2| (1921–1928)
| 50px|Field Marshal
| 50px|General
| 50px|Lieutenant-General
| 50px|Major-General
|
| 50px|Brigadier
| 50px|Colonel
| 50px|Lieutenant-Colonel
| 50px|Major
|
| 50px|Captain
| 50px|Lieutenant
| 50px|Second Lieutenant
| 50px|Officer Cadet
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Field marshal
| General
| Lieutenant-general
| Major-general
|
| Colonel commandant/<br />Colonel on the staff
| Colonel
| Lieutenant-colonel
| Major
|
| Captain
| Lieutenant
| Second lieutenant
| Officer cadet
|- style="text-align:center;"
! (1928–1953)
| 50px|Field Marshal
| 50px|General
| 50px|Lieutenant-General
| 50px|Major-General
|
| 50px|Brigadier
| 50px|Colonel
| 50px|Lieutenant-Colonel
| 50px|Major
|
| 50px|Captain
| 50px|Lieutenant
| 50px|Second Lieutenant
| 50px|Officer Cadet
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
| Field marshal
| General
| Lieutenant-general
| Major-general
|
| Brigadier
| Colonel
| Lieutenant-colonel
| Major
|
| Captain
| Lieutenant
| Second lieutenant
| Officer cadet
|- style="text-align:center;"
! (1953–2023)
| 50px|Field Marshal
| 50px|General
| 50px|Lieutenant-General
| 50px|Major-General
|
| 50px|Brigadier
| 50px|Colonel
| 50px|Lieutenant-Colonel
| 50px|Major
|
| 50px|Captain
| 50px|Lieutenant
| 50px|Second Lieutenant
| 50px|Officer Cadet
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
| Field marshal
| General
| Lieutenant-general
| Major-general
|
| Brigadier
| Colonel
| Lieutenant-colonel
| Major
|
| Captain
| Lieutenant
| Second lieutenant
| Officer cadet
|- style="text-align:center;"
! (2023–present)
| 50px|Field Marshal
| 50px|General
| 50px|Lieutenant-General
| 50px|Major-General
|
| 50px|Brigadier
| 50px|Colonel
| 50px|Lieutenant-Colonel
| 50px|Major
|
| 50px|Captain
| 50px|Lieutenant
| 50px|Second Lieutenant
| 50px|Officer Cadet
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
| Field marshal
| General
| Lieutenant-general
| Major-general
|
| Brigadier
| Colonel
| Lieutenant-colonel
| Major
|
| Captain
| Lieutenant
| Second lieutenant
| Officer cadet
|- style="background-color:#CCCCCC; text-align:center;"
! NATO Code
! OF-10
! OF-9
! OF-8
! OF-7
! colspan=2| OF-6
! OF-5
! OF-4
! OF-3
! colspan=2| OF-2
! colspan=2| OF-1
! N/A
|}
Historical ranks
- Captain-general (c. 17th century): a full general.
- Sergeant-major-general (c. 17th century): shortened to major general.
- (Lieutenant-)Colonel Commandant (c. 19th century): most senior commanding rank in artillery bataillons and regiments, but sometimes also in cavalry (especially when the latter was stationed in India). Around the year 1850, the lieutenant-colonel commandant's rank insignia consisted of two silver stars (while a major had one star, a lieutenant-colonel one crown and a colonel crown and star).
- Captain-lieutenant (c. 17th & 18th century): the lieutenant of the first company in a regiment, whose captaincy was held by the regimental colonel. On promotion to full captain, the period in this rank was treated as having been a full captain for pay and pension purposes, since he effectively commanded the company.
- Ensign: lowest subaltern rank in infantry regiments; replaced in 1871 by second lieutenant, but still used to refer to second lieutenants in some Guards regiments.
- Cornet: cavalry equivalent of ensign replaced in 1871 by second lieutenant, but still used to refer to second lieutenants in some cavalry regiments, including the Blues and Royals and The Queen's Royal Hussars.
See also
- British Army other ranks rank insignia
- Uniforms of the British Army
- List of comparative military ranks
- Comparative officer ranks of World War I
- Comparative officer ranks of World War II
- Ranks and insignia of NATO
- Comparison of United Kingdom and United States military ranks
- Royal Navy officer rank insignia
- RAF officer ranks
- Ranks of the cadet forces of the United Kingdom
Notes
References
Works cited
External links
- British Army rank structure and insignia (British Army website)
- SaBRE
- Victorian Infantry Officer Ranks
- Napoleonic Era British Military ranks at ArmchairGeneral.com