♦ British Armed Forces World War II ♦

Table of Officer Ranks

 
ARMY ROYAL NAVY ROYAL AIR FORCE
 
Field Marshal Admiral of the Fleet Marshal of the RAF
General Admiral Air Chief Marshal
Lieutenant-General Vice-Admiral Air Marshal
Major-General Rear-Admiral Air Vice-Marshal
Brigadier * Commodore *** Air Commodore
 
Colonel ** Captain Group Captain
Lieutenant-Colonel Commander Wing Commander
Major Lieutenant-Commander Squadron Leader
Captain Lieutenant Flight Lieutenant
Lieutenant Sub-Lieutenant Flying Officer
Second Lieutenant Midshipman Pilot Officer


 

Notes

Brigadiers, Colonels, Lieutenant-Colonels and Majors were classified as field officers; Captains were classified as company officers; Lieutenants and Second Lieutenants were classified as subalterns.

In the Royal Navy, Captain was also a courtesy title for the commander of a commissioned ship.

* A Brigadier in the British Army was not a general officer and is best characterized as a senior colonel.

** The rank of Colonel could be either substantive (permanent) or temporary. Both wore the same shoulder strap insignia, but the former wore the same cap and collar tabs as a Brigadier.

*** There were two grades of Commodore: First Class and Second Class
 

 

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