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History of the RSM's Badge + WO1 and WO2: Page 2

crown badge

Information Sheet

Warrant Officers of the British Army

By Mike Comerford

http://www.oldstuff.myagora.net/powerload/ordnance/index.htm

Warrant Officers were first introduced into the British Army on the 1st  January 1879. A class of Warrant Officers was constituted, "to assist in the discharge of the subordinate duties of the Commissariat and Transport and of the Ordnance Store Departments of our Army, to be denominated 'Conductors of Supplies' and 'Conductors of Stores' respectively.

Their position in our Army shall be inferior to that of all commissioned officers and superior to that of all noncommissioned officers. Conductors shall at the same time have full power to exercise command over any subordinates of the Departments of our Army, or noncommissioned officers or soldiers of our Army, who may be placed under their orders ". For the purposes of this article I shall call these first Warrant Officers Group (i)

So successful was the introduction of Conductors of Supplies and Stores that further Warrant Officers were introduced, Master Gunners to the Royal Artillery, Schoolmasters and Paymasters. All appointed to Group (i)

A new class of Warrant Officer, Group (ii) was soon to follow, and with the onset of World War One a class of Warrant Officer. as described by the following Royal Warrant:

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It is at this stage that the question of identifying badges of rank started to become confused. Warrant Officer's of Group (i) wore the 'Crown in Wreath' and Warrant Officers of Group (ii) the 'Large Crown' on the sleeve.

Above. Large Crown WO Group (ii)
Left. Crown in Wreath WO Group (i)

These Warrant Officers now became Class One, with groups (i) & (ii) being identified by different badges, Warrant Officer Class One, Group (i) by the 'Crown in Wreath' and Warrant Officer Class One, Group (ii) by the newly introduced 'Royal Arms';  The 'Large Crown' then becoming the badge of the Warrant Officer Class Two:

Warrant Officer Class 1 Group (i)

Warrant Officer Class 1 Group (ii)

Warrant Officer Class 2 (gilded & plain)

Rank badge of a Company Sergeant Major in the Coldstream Guards

In 1918 a further modification was made, with the introduction of the 'Royal Arms in Wreath' for Warrant Officers Class One, Group (i) ‑ Warrant Officers Class One, Group (ii) continued to wear the 'Royal Arms' At this time the 'Crown in Wreath' was discontinued.

Warrant Officer Class 1 Group (i) Warrant Officer Class 1 Group (ii) Use discontinued except as below Warrant Officer Class 2

In a 1938 Army Council Instruction (A,C.I. 398 of 1938) the 'Crown in Laurel Wreath' was allocated to Warrant Officers Class 11 on the introduction of Warrant Officer Class III who in turn were allocated the 'Large Crown' to wear. (This rank was placed in suspension in 1940, technically however this still remains as a rank)  

This was to continue till 1947 (A.C.I. 991 of 1947) when it was decided that Warrant Officers Class 2 graded as Quartermaster-Sergeants would revert to wearing the 'Crown in Laurel Wreath' and all other Warrant Officers Class 2 and any remaining Warrant Officers Class 3 would wear the 'Large Crown'

These changes were adapted by the Dominion and Commonwealth Armies where the Appointment Names of Warrant Officers were not always the same, but classes of Warrant Officers were closely followed. 

Dates badges worn (British Army)

c1900 to 1918

Warrant Officer Class One, Group (i)
1938 to 1947 Warrant Officer Class Two  
1947 to date   WO2 Quartermaster-Sergeants'  

c1900 to 1915 Warrant Officer Class One, Group (ii)  
1915 to 1938 Warrant Officer Class Two  
1938 to 1947 Warrant Officer Class Three  
1947 to date   Warrant Officer Class Two  

1918 to date

Warrant Officer Class One, Group (i)  

Note: In Australia the wreath now signifies that the wearer is the Senior Non Commissioned Officer in the Service; i.e. Warrant Officer of the Navy, RSM of the Army or Warrant Officer of the RAAF

1915 to date Warrant Officer Class One, Group (ii) 

Note. In Australia the Royal Arms have been replaced by the Australian Coat of Arms.

 © Copyright, M Comerford 2004 All rights reserved. Parts may be reproduced providing source credit is given.  

  • 1965 St Edward's Crown (Queen's Crown) in wreath as worn by UK Regimental Quarter-Master Sergeants (RQMS WO2).
  • The Regimental Sergeant-Major of the 13th Hussars on the left is in full dress dismounted order. 
  • He wears gold cord braiding on his tunic and round the edge of his collar. 
  • His cap-lines are also gold. 
  • At that time, the RSM's badge of rank was a crown worn just over the Austrian knot on his right sleeve.
  • Uniform circa 1900.

The "Big Badge" of the United Kingdom

The history of the wearing of the Royal Coat of Arms as the badge of rank of the Regimental Sergeant Major. It started with the Life Guards but eventually spread as described below.

 This has led to Australian & NZ Regimental Sergeant Majors wearing their respective national Coat of Arms as the badge of rank. see below

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All page images are thumbnails. Click to enlarge

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Honi soit qui mal y pense (French for ‘Shame on him who thinks this evil’) appears on a garter which surrounds the shield on the Royal Coat of Arms. This garter symbolises the Order of the Garter, an ancient order of knighthood of which the Queen is sovereign. Dieu et mon droit (French for ‘God and my right’) is the motto of the Sovereign and dates from the time of King Henry V (reigned 1413-1422). The motto appears below the shield on the Royal Coat of Arms.
 

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