WHAT RANK IS IT?

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 48, Issue 2863, 15 November 1939, Page 6

WHAT RANK IS IT?

SOLDIERS OF THE ARMY OFFICERS AND. N.C.O’S. HOW TO DISTINGUISH THEM ’Sooner or later in this war you will meet a soldier. How will you address him? If he is an officer you may deem it wise to call him “colonel” just to be on the safe side, because it is possible that a soldier might become very indignant if you are indiscreet enough to disrate him. It is simple, however, to become familiar with the distinguishing marks of rank. Widespread ignorance among civilians on the subject of badges of rank has been displayed since the outbreak of the war. At many a social gathering the guests have borne an appearance of embarrassment when addressing officers of the army as eyes sweep uniforms for an indication of rank. More often than not the variety of badges and shoulder titles convey nothing to the civilian unaccustomed to uniform as New Zealanders undoubtedly, must be. . Commissioned ranks begin with the junior subaltern or second-lieutenant, who is distinguished by one star on each shoulder strap. A lieutenant, with two stars on each shoulder strap, is next in seniority. Then comes the captain, who is distinguished by three stars on each shoulder strap. The next step is; to the rank of major, which is indicated by a crown on each shoulder strap.

■ Next in seniority to a major is the lieutenant-colonel, whose rank is shown by a crown and one star on each shoulder strap. A colonel is indicated by two stars and a Crown. He is the first of the class of senior officers popularly described as the “brass hats” because of the edging of gold leaves round the peak of his hat. Highest New Zealand Rank Next in order of rank to the colonel is the major-general who can be distinguished by crossed batons and a star .on each shoulder. This is the highest rank of any serving officer in New Zealand.

What are the duties of these officers? The second-lieutenant is usually in charge of a platoon of 32 non-commissioned officers and men. A lieutenant usually has similar duties, but he may also be second in command of a company, consisting of three platoons. A captain may be either a company commander or second in command of a company. The senior major?of a battalion is usually second in command, and he is also presidentofthe regimental institutions, and has charge of the tailors, shoesmakers, sporting organisations, and so on. When the battalion commander is absent, the senior major automatically takes charge. The lieutenant-colonel, being the commanding officer, is in the language of the soldier, the “one and all of the battalion.” The battalion as a whole is his responsibility. A col-

onel may have charge of a brigade, while the major-general commands a division. These duties vary on occasions according to conditions prevailing at the time. Adjutant’s Duties In the army there is a quartermaster who is usually a lieutenant or a captain. .He is responsible to the 1 commanding officer for the well-being ' of the regiment—the foodt, clothing, ' living conditions, and so on. He obtains all equipment required from Ordnance and distributes it with the assistance of the regimental quarter-master-sergeant, who may have clerks and other men under him. Another commissioned officer with general duties is the adjutant, usually a lieutenant or a captain. He is responsible to the commanding officer for everything in the regiment and should know everything that goes on. He is also an adviser to the commanding officer, especially in matters of military law. The order of rank in the non-com-missioned officers is often puzzling to the civilian. First of these ranks is lance-corporal who, in the artillery, is a lance-bombardier. The rank is signified by one chevron. The lancecorporal has charge of a section of six or seven men. Next comes the corporal who in the artillery is a bombardier. He has two chevrons on his arm and his duties are the same as those of a lance-corporal, to whom he is a senior, of course'. In an emergency he may be called upon to perform the duties of a sergeant. About The Sergeant

Next in order is the sergeant, distinguished by three stripes on the arm. There are two grades of sergeant -—lance-sergeants and. ser-geants—-but the number of stripes worn in each case is the same. A lance-sergeant has' the duties of a corporal, but has the privilege of be-

ing a member of the sergeants’ mess, an exclusive organisation from which civilians are rigidly barred, and which even a commissioned officer may nor enter except by express invitation. A full sergeant usually has charge of a platoon, undei' the platoon commander, and as such has authority over all the men and other non-com-missioned officers in the platoon. Next in order of seniority is the company quartermaster - sergeant, whose rank is indicated by three stripes surmounted by a crown on both sleeves. His principal duty is to look after the welfare of all the men in his company, which consists of four platoons. *He looks to mess conditions, cooking, pay, and so on. Next in order of seniority is the company sergeant-major, who is a warrant officer, Class 11. A crown on the lower part of the sleeve indicates his rank. He is responsible to the company commander for all matters pertaining to the company (three platoons) and forms a kind of buffer state between the men and the commissioned officers. Highest N.C.O. Rank The regimental quartermastersergeant is the next rank in order. He wears a crown enclosed in a wreath of gold leaves on the lower part of each sleeve. He is responsible with the company quartermas-ter-seargeants beneath him for everything pertaining to quartermastering in the battalion. He assists in the control of the messing- of the men and everything of that nature pertaining to the men’s welfare. He is a senior Class 11. warrant officer.

: The limit in non-commissioned rank is reached with the regimental sergeant-major, who wears a badge consisting of the Royal Arms on each lower sleeve. He is responsible with the adjutant for discipline and all similar matters. He is the principal connecting link between the noncommissioned and commissioned officers. The well-being of the • whole regiment, discipline, and the smooth running of regimental life engage his interest almost to the exclusion of everything else. The man who holds this rank has usually had considerable service.