British Army Other Ranks Rank Insignia - Historical Ranks

Historical Ranks

• Sergeant-Major: equivalent to the current Regimental Sergeant Major, a Warrant Officer class 1
• Company Sergeant-Major: now an appointment of Warrant Officer class 2
• Quartermaster Sergeant: can now be a Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant (Warrant Officer class 2) or a Company Quartermaster Sergeant (Staff Sergeant)
• Colour Sergeant: gave way to staff sgt over years prior to World War I although colour sergeant exists today in the Royal Marines and any infantry regiments, equivalent to a staff sergeant in the army, and is still used to refer to all staff sergeants in infantry regiments and the Honourable Artillery Company:
• Lance-Sergeant: appointment originally given to corporals acting in the rank of sergeant, discontinued in 1946 except in the Foot Guards, Honourable Artillery Company: and some cadet units.
• Acting Bombardier: appointment originally given to Royal Artillery privates acting in the rank of bombardier, discontinued in 1920
• Second Corporal: Royal Engineer and Ordnance Corps rank until 1920, equivalent to lance-corporal but a substantive instead of an acting rank
• Chosen Man: became lance corporal in early 19th century