Timeline of British Army ranks

Timeline of changes

1953-present

Modern (2024) British army other ranks

NATO rank code	Rank name
OR-1	Private No Insignia
OR-2	Private (proficient) No Insignia
OR-3	Lance Corporal
OR-4	Corporal
OR-5	Sergeant
OR-6	Sergeant
OR-7	Staff Sergeant/Colour Sergeant (CQMS)
OR-8	Warrant Officer Class 2 (RQMS, CSM)
OR-9	Warrant Officer Class 1 (RSM, Cdr, ASM)

Modern (2024) British army officer ranks

NATO rank code	Rank name
OF-1b	Second Lieutenant
OF-1a	Lieutenant
OF-2	Captain
OF-3	Major
OF-4	Lieutenant colonel
OF-5	Colonel
OF-6	Brigadier
OF-7	Major General
OF-8	Lieutenant General
OF-9	General
OF-10	Field Marshal

1948-1953

1953 British Army other ranks

NATO rank code	Rank name
OR-1	Private No Insignia
OR-2	Private No Insignia
OR-3	Lance-Corporal
OR-4	Corporal
OR-5	Sergeant
OR-6	Sergeant
OR-7	Staff Sergeant/Colour Sergeant
OR-8	Quartermaster Sergeant/Warrant Officer Class 2
OR-9b	Sergeant Major/Warrant Officer Class 1
OR-9a	Staff Sergeant Major/Conductor

1953 British army officer ranks

NATO rank code	Rank name
OF-1b	Second Lieutenant
OF-1a	Lieutenant
OF-2	Captain
OF-3	Major
OF-4	Lieutenant colonel
OF-5	Colonel
OF-6	Brigadier
OF-7	Major General
OF-8	Lieutenant General
OF-9	General
OF-10	Field Marshal

1938-1947

1947 British Army other ranks

NATO rank code	Rank name
OR-1	Private No Insignia
OR-2	Private No Insignia
OR-3	Lance-Corporal
OR-4	Corporal
OR-5	Sergeant
OR-6	Sergeant
OR-7	Staff Sergeant/ Colour Sergeant
OR-8b	Warrant Officer Class 3
OR-8a	Quartermaster Sergeant/ Warrant Officer Class 2
OR-9b	Sergeant Major/ Warrant Officer Class 1
OR-9a	Staff Sergeant Major/ Conductor

1947 British army officer ranks

NATO rank code	Rank name
OF-1b	Second Lieutenant
OF-1a	Lieutenant
OF-2	Captain
OF-3	Major
OF-4	Lieutenant colonel
OF-5	Colonel
OF-6	Brigadier
OF-7	Major General
OF-8	Lieutenant General
OF-9	General
OF-10	Field Marshal

1921-1937

1937 British Army other ranks

NATO rank code	Rank name
OR-1	Private No Insignia
OR-2	Private No Insignia
OR-3	Lance-Corporal
OR-4	Corporal
OR-5	Sergeant
OR-6	Sergeant
OR-7	Staff Sergeant/ Colour Sergeant
OR-8	Quartermaster Sergeant/ Warrant Officer Class 2
OR-9b	Sergeant Major/ Warrant Officer Class 1
OR-9a	Staff Sergeant Major/ Conductor

1937 British army officer ranks

NATO rank code	Rank name
OF-1b	Second Lieutenant
OF-1a	Lieutenant
OF-2	Captain
OF-3	Major
OF-4	Lieutenant colonel
OF-5	Colonel
OF-6	Colonel Commandant/ Colonel on the Staff
OF-7	Major General
OF-8	Lieutenant General
OF-9	General
OF-10	Field Marshal

1902-1920

1920 British Army other ranks

NATO rank code	Rank name
OR-1	Private No Insignia
OR-2	Private No Insignia
OR-3	Lance-Corporal Singular point-down chevron
OR-4	Corporal Two point-down chevrons
OR-5	Sergeant Three point-down chevrons
OR-6	Sergeant Three point-down chevrons
OR-7	Colour-Sergeant Three point-down chevrons with a crown
OR-8	Company Sergeant-Major
OR-9	Warrant Officer/Regimental Sergeant-Major

1920 British army officer ranks

NATO rank code	Rank name
OF-1b	Second Lieutenant
OF-1a	Lieutenant
OF-2	Captain
OF-3	Major
OF-4	Lieutenant-Colonel
OF-5	Colonel
OF-6	Brigadier General
OF-7	Major General
OF-8	Lieutenant General
OF-9	General
OF-10	Field Marshal

1880-1902

1902 British Army other ranks

NATO rank code	Rank name
OR-1	Private
OR-2	Private
OR-3	Lance-Corporal
OR-4	Corporal
OR-5	Sergeant
OR-6	Sergeant
OR-7	Colour-Sergeant
OR-8	Company Sergeant-Major
OR-9	Regimental Sergeant-Major

1902 British army officer ranks

NATO rank code	Rank name
OF-1b	Second Lieutenant
OF-1a	Lieutenant
OF-2	Captain
OF-3	Major
OF-4	Lieutenant-Colonel
OF-5	Colonel
OF-6	Brigadier General
OF-7	Major General
OF-8	Lieutenant General
OF-9	General
OF-10	Field Marshal

Previous ranks

Old British system for General Officer ranks

NATO rank code	Rank name
OF-6	Colonel-General/ Brigadier-General
OF-7	Sergeant-Major-General Major-General
OF-8	Lieutenant-General
OF-9	Captain-General/General
OF-10	Marshal/Field Marshal

Notes

^Note 1 Private (proficient) is not a rank, but is used for pay grade instead

^Note 2 Field Marshal is currently an honorary rank