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.
Insignia Badges of rank
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 ranks below colonel vary by regiment.
The Mameluke 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.
The rank of field marshal has become an honorary rank; the last active officer to be promoted to the rank was in 1994.
Transport insignia
Star plates 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.
+ British Army star platesField MarshalGeneralLieutenant-generalMajor-generalBrigadier
Car flags In the British Army, only field marshals have an assigned rank flag, which is the Union Flag. However, general officers commanding and brigadiers in command of a formation may fly a designated car flag or pennant from the front of the bonnet of their car when on official duties and it is necessary for the car or its occupant to be recognised. British Army car flags are in a 2:3 ratio and are sized , with the exception of Army Board car flags which are . The flag is not normally used on long journeys but may be hoisted when close to the destination. They may not be flown on army aircraft, but the chief of the general staff may fly their flag of appointment when a passenger in a transport aircraft of the Royal Navy or the Royal Air Force. Master generals, honorary colonels, colonels commandant and their deputies, corps and regimental colonels may use their corps or regimental pennant as a car flag, and the Master Gunner, St James's Park, uses a miniature of the Royal Artillery Standard. In foreign and Commonwealth countries, officers must seek the permission of its British ambassador or high commissioner in order to use a car flag.
+ British Army car flags and pennantsChief of the general staffMilitary member of the Army BoardCommander Land Forces(C-in-C)or army group commander(GOC-in-C)Senior staff officer on the staff of a C-in-C Army commander(GOC-in-C)Corps commander(GOC)Divisional commander(GOC)District commander(GOC) Area or sub-districtcommanderBrigade commanderBritish military attachéMaster Gunner, St James's Park For appointments below army group commander, the car flags are defaced by the approved formation emblem in the centre of the flag.
Flags afloat When on board a vessel, general officers commanding fly a distinguishing flag at the fore consisting of a Union Flag defaced by the royal cypher within a blue disc circled by a gold coloured rim and a green garland. When on joint operations at sea with the other armed services, it may be hoisted at the fore to denote the presence of an army headquarters, but it does not replace any flag officer's flag, broad pennant or masthead pennant, which must be flown in a superior position.
General officer commanding afloat
Role
Officer rankTypical command sizeTypical command appointmentTypical time taken for a promotionField marshal N/AGeneralLieutenant-generalMajor generalDivision commander (GOC)BrigadierBrigade commander or senior appointment on the Army staffColonelField command in the Royal Army Medical CorpsStaff officersLieutenant colonelUp to 650 soldiers and officersRegiment/battalion/battlegroup(commanding officer)MajorUp to 120 soldiers and officersSquadron/battery/company(officer commanding)After being in the army for between 8 and 10 yearsCaptainBetween 50 and 120 soldiersSquadron/battery/company(2IC)After 3 years of commissioned serviceLieutenant35 soldiersTroop/platoon commanderUp to 2 years after reaching second lieutenant rankSecond lieutenantAfter completing officer trainingOfficer cadet No commandN/A
History of rank insignia General officers Before 1767, there were no definite badges for Field Marshals and general officers. In 1767, the British Army issued an order to distinguish Field Marshals (once the rank was established in 1813) and different graded General officers by the combination of chevron-shaped ess pattern laces on the sleeve. Field Marshal: Evenly spaced six laces. General: Evenly spaced four laces. Lieutenant General: Six laces in threes. Major General: Four laces in twos. Brigadier General: Three laces. Upper twos were in pair.
During the Napoleonic Wars, field marshals wore oak-leaf embroidered collar and cuff; and shoulder cord instead of previous pattern. It was continued until the end of 1830.
At the beginning of 1831, new rank distinction was ordered for field marshals and general officers. 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. It was the first complete set of rank badges to be used by the British Army. Field Marshal: Two rows of one inch wide oak-leaf designed lace on the collar with crossed baton above the wreath in silver. General: Two rows of one inch wide oak-leaf designed lace on the collar with Crown and star in silver. Lieutenant General: Two rows of one inch wide oak-leaf designed lace on the collar with Crown in silver. Major General: Two rows of one inch wide oak-leaf designed lace on the collar with Star in silver. Brigadier-general: Two rows of half inch wide staff pattern lace on the collar with Crown and star in silver.
In 1868, brigadier-generals were ordered to wear the same collar as other General officers, but no device in the collar.
In 1880, the War Office ordered to move rank badges from collar to shoulder. Field Marshal: Crossed batons above the wreath of oak-leaf. On the top of the wreath a crown. General: Crossed baton and sword with Crown and star. Lieutenant General: Crossed baton and sword with Crown. Major General: Crossed baton and sword with Star. Brigadier General: Crossed baton and sword.
Due to the expansion of the Army during World War I, there were a very large number of general officers, whose numbers were very disproportionate to the other Allied Armies, and reduced the status of all British Generals. There were talks and proposal to address the number of general officers without abolishing the rank, but it was found that this would produce a number of issues and was considered impracticable. In 1920 it was promulgated in Army Order 545 of 1920 to abolish the rank of Brigadier General and substitute in its place the ranks Colonel Commandant (commander of a brigade or training school) and Colonel-on-the-Staff (staff officer, usually appointed Directors, Deputy Director etc. at the War Officer and in India), effective from 1 January 1921. The rank badges of Colonel Commandant and Colonel on the staff were identical to each other, consisting of a crown and three stars. After difficulties arose for those who previously held the rank of brigadier-general; Earl Curzon stated that: "…British Military Attaches at foreign capitals who at present hold the rank of Brigadier-General…will lose precedence and prestige and will have to yield in both respects to foreign officers…". The Secretary of State refused to make an exception for Military Attaches, on the advice of the Army Council. However, following this, difficulties arose in India, as in the minds of the Indian personnel commanders of brigades had lost prestige, as the term Colonel conveys the command of battalions. In 1926 Formal consent by the King to substitute Colonel Commandant with Brigadier was given, however after further issues were raised, the matter was reopened and on reconsideration it was decided to abolish the title of Colonel-on-the-Staff also. Accordingly, on 1 June 1928, the temporary rank of brigadier was reinstated, and the titles of Colonel Commandant and Colonel-on-the-Staff were abolished. The Army Order stated,"Officers holding the temporary rank of brigadier will have precedence of, and command over all other colonels. Among them- selves they will take precedence according to their permanent rank. They will wear the same dress (including rank badges) as at present prescribed for colonels commandant and colonels on the staff." Brigadiers have held the same rank insignia, of the Colonel Commandant and Colonels-on-the-Staff since 1928.
Regimental officers In 1953, the crown was changed from the Tudor Crown to the Crown of St Edward, when Queen Elizabeth II adopted a stylised image of the crown for use in coats of arms, badges, logos and various other insignia. 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.