When interpreting a man’s service record or entry in a campaign medal roll, it is common to come across written terms like “L/Cpl”, “A/Cpl” or “T/Sgt”. The letter prefixes are modifiers to the man’s rank. They can be very difficult to interpret, not least as the regulations and what the various terms actually meant were often changed. The terms do not apply to the Private (or Gunner, Driver or other equivalent) but to those ranks known as non-commissioned officers.
I am grateful to the many contributors to a number of useful discussions on this subject at the online Great War Forum, especially members kevinrowlinson and Muerrisch. Their input has enabled me to compile this study. It is deliberately simplified, with many nuances omitted. It may not be exhaustive but it does appear fairly solid, enough for you to use when looking at a soldier’s story.
Preliminary note
This article concerns only men who were not commissioned officers.
Ranks
The ranks of soldiers as applying during the Great War were defined in King’s Regulations of 1912 and subsequent amendments to those regulations. For simplicity’s sake for the purpose of this article, let us consider that there were these basic ranks below warrant rank: Private, Corporal and Sergeant in the infantry; Gunner, Bombardier, Corporal and Sergeant in the artillery. To move from one to another was a promotion, bringing additional responsibilities, different insignia, and pay.
Before the war, promotions required the man to achieve certain levels of proficiency in passing examinations and acquiring certificates of army education. In the more urgent war situation, this practice appears to have quickly declined and acquisition of front-line experience played a significant part.
Lance
A Private might be made a Lance-Corporal; a Corporal might be made a Lance-Sergeant. This was not a promotion but an appointment; but a Lance-Sergeant, for example, had precedence over any Corporal, and a Lance-Corporal had precedence over any Private. These appointments also brought the additional responsibilities and the insignia of the higher rank, but not necessarily the additional pay of the appointment. It is common to see such examples as “unpaid Lance-Corporal”, which meant that the man continued to be paid as a Private. This may be viewed as being similar to being on probation in a new job, in that the elevation to “paid” usually eventually came if the man was considered capable at the higher level of responsibility.
A Lance-Corporal would be expected to cover for a Corporal and take over his duties in the latter’s absence. The same was true of a Lance-Sergeant covering for an absent Sergeant. This was especially important in the periods after a unit had been in action, when a substantive NCO may have become a casualty. The Lance-Corporal or Lance-Sergeant could not however necessarily be promoted to fill the place of a casualty Corporal or Sergeant, for there may have been a man who was already at that rank who could be posted into place (for example, a Corporal of the unit who was at a base depot after recovering from an illness.) Technically, the latter would get precedence, but the practicality of the situation might call for an alternative, which would be to promote the Lance-Corporal to Acting Corporal (below).
A man may lose his Lance appointment for a variety of reasons: at his own request, over disciplinary or performance matters, on transfer to a different unit or to reserve (for unlike a substantive promotion, an appointment was made by the commanding officer of a unit and it did not persist in the case of transfer) or a move overseas.
Acting
The Royal Artillery used an appointment known as Acting Bombardier. This did not employ the word “acting” in a way used by any other corps and can be most misleading, for it was equivalent to the use of Lance in the infantry. See Army Council Instruction 1743 of 30 November 1917, below.
The artillery’s use of Acting was not replicated in the other corps, where it meant more generally a short-term promotion or appointment. So for example, a Corporal might be promoted to Acting Sergeant, or a Private might be an Acting Lance-Corporal. Even an unpaid Acting Lance-Corporal.
Postings and transfers
A posting was to move a man from one unit to another within the same corps.
A transfer was to move a man from a unit of one corps to a unit of another: for example, from infantry to artillery; or from Royal Warwickshire Regiment to Yorkshire Regiment (as infantry regiments were considered to be of various different corps.)
War Office Instruction 194 of 22 August 1914
This Instruction covered the situation where a reserve unit at home grew in size to be greater than the laid-down war establishment for such a unit. This was happening due to the rapid inflow of recruits to the depots and training units. It gave the commanding officer of the unit authority to add an Acting Corporal for every 20 men in excess of establishment, and an Acting Sergeant for every 25. The details appear as “A/Cpl” or”A/Sgt” in records. The Acting NCOs were to be paid at the normal rate of a full Corporal or Sergeant and they would wear the appropriate insignia, but their service in the Acting rank would not count towards their pensionable service.
War Office Instruction 71 of 6 March 1915
This tackled the possibility of a man who had been given a substantive promotion while with a reserve unit, sometimes even on the date he went overseas with a draft, being posted to a unit in the field and superseding an experienced man who was only Acting at the same rank. This was seen as an injustice to the latter.
The Instruction reminded commanding officers of previous instructions that promotions for duties with a draft in transit overseas could only be in an Acting capacity and not substantive. It also reminded that substantive promotions within reserve units could only be to fill vacancies up to original establishment and that any others (for example, because the reserve unit was overmanned) must be Acting.
The Instruction also gave details of the priorities for selection of NCOs for drafts.
Army Council Instruction 1701 of 2 September 1916
This Instruction dealt with units at home, many of which were being affected by transfers of men from other units, reductions in the defined establishment of a unit, changes in medical categories of fitness and other reasons that led to there being a surplus of NCOs of any rank within the unit. It stated that the establishment of the ranks of a unit would be completed first by NCOs of the relevant substantive rank and then by men who were in the rank on an Acting basis. The seniority of any given NCO in his rank would be based on the last date when he was promoted or appointed, whether substantive or acting.
For transfers into the unit and other arrivals (for example from overseas), those men holding a substantive rank, and those entitled to hold an acting rank for some definite period, would be the first to be absorbed in the establishment of a unit, even if it meant that an NCO holding acting rank in that unit had to be reverted to his substantive rank.
If there was an excess above establishment at any rank, the most junior (shortest seniority) acting NCO in that rank would revert to his substantive rank; and if that caused an excess lower down then the same thing would apply at that rank.
NCOs in paid lance appointments (which included Acting Bombardiers in the artillery) would, on being sent home from overseas, retain their appointment and seniority (even if above establishment of the unit to which they had been transferred), but they would revert to the pay of their substantive rank until they could be absorbed into the establishment of paid lance appointments of the unit.
All promotion within units at home would now be to acting rank only, except in a corps in which promotion is given in a general roster [? which corps this applied to ?].
When a unit serving at home embarked for service overseas, the grant of substantive rank to NCOs would be dealt with under existing regulations covering promotions overseas. All holding acting rank, other than those appointed to conduct a draft, would revert to their substantive rank of the date of embarkation. The Acting NCOs conducting a draft would revert once this duty was completed.
Army Order 99 of 1916
Any Private, Gunner, Driver, Pioneer, Sapper or Trooper holding an acting rank or an appointment higher than Acting Bombardier or Lance-Corporal could be reverted for an offence by his commanding officer, down to his substantive rank or to a lower grade of acting rank. (For example, an Acting Sergeant could be reverted to Acting Corporal or even down to Private).
Army Council Instruction 2105 of 8 November 1916
Any Lance-Corporal, Lance-Sergeant or Acting Bombardier sent home from a unit serving overseas would retain his appointment and seniority for promotion. If, when posted to a reserve unit he was supernumerary (that is, the unit had more than its establishment number of men in that appointment) he would become “unpaid”. The Instruction said he should be absorbed into the paid establishment at the first opportunity.
The Instruction also said that any paid Lance NCO from a home unit who, on being sent to a unit overseas* became supernumerary (that is, the unit to which he was being posted had more than its establishment number of men in that appointment), he would retain his appointment and pay.
*ACI 124 of 21 January 1917 clarified this to include men being posted to a unit of an expeditionary force from a unit stationed overseas.
It was confirmed that unpaid lance appointments would not be retained on transfer from one unit to another.
The Instruction also said that a paid lance appointment would only be given to a man holding the substantive rank below it. So for example, an Acting Corporal could not be appointed to paid Lance-Sergeant (but he might be made unpaid Lance-Sergeant), whereas a Corporal could.**
**ACI 124 of 21 January 1917 clarified this to say that an acting paid lance appointment could be given to a man in the lower rank, whether substantive or acting. So for example, an Acting Corporal could be appointed Acting paid Lance-Sergeant. Such an appointment would cease as soon as the vacancy became permanently filled, and would not be retained if the man was transferred to a different unit.
Army Council Instruction 337 of 24 February 1917 (replacing 2105 of 1916 and 124 of 1917)
A NCO holding a paid lance appointment would retain it and his seniority for promotion when he was transferred between units, in the following circumstances: From a unit serving in (a) an expeditionary force; (b) abroad but not in an expeditionary force; (c) at home, to a unit serving (a) at home; (b) abroad but not in an expeditionary force. If he was supernumerary to the paid lance establishment of the unit he was joining, he would retain his appointment but become unpaid. The Instruction said he should be absorbed into the paid establishment at the first opportunity. If instead he was being transferred to a unit serving in an expeditionary force then he should be absorbed into first vacancy for the lance rank he held.
The Instruction also stated that an acting paid lance appointment could be given to a man holding either a substantive or acting rank: for example, an Acting Corporal could be appointed Acting Paid Lance-Sergeant.
Further, the Instruction said that an acting paid lance appointment would be relinquished as soon as the vacancy was permanently filled or the holder ceased to perform the specific duties of his acting role, and would not be retained should he leave the unit. It also reminded that unpaid lance appointments would not transfer from one unit to another.
Army Council Instruction 1592 of 1917
This related to promotions in units that were overseas but not serving in an expeditionary force (so, for example, British units in India). If a vacancy arose from any of the following reasons, it must be filled by a substantive promotion: (1) death; (2) discharge from service; (3) a man’s reduction in rank; (4) transfer to another unit; (5) gazetting to a commission as an officer. If the vacancy arose for any other reason it could be filled by an acting promotion. Warrant Officers Class II and NCOs holding acting roles who were eligible for substantive promotion under this ACI would be granted substantive rank from the date of issue.
Army Council Instruction 1662 of 8 November 1917 (relating to Royal Artillery)
Regarding the rank of Warrant Officer Class I
Warrant Officers Class II, and Battery and Company Quartermaster Sergeants who held that rank on 28 January 1915, and who were regular soldiers serving on a normal engagement, would be promoted to Warrant Officer Class I to fill vacancies on the peace establishment that came because of any of the following causes (a) death; (b) discharge from service; (c) gazetting to a commission; (d) made a prisoner of war or declared missing [the promotion into the vacancy would not take place for three months after declaration]; (e) transfer to another unit to fill a vacancy for which a substantive promotion was authorised; (f) reduction in rank.
All other vacancies due to any of the above-named causes which occur in an authorised war establishment other than in purely temporary formations will be filled by temporary promotion for the duration of the war of Warrant Officers Class II or NCOs serving on any engagement [including Territorial Force].
An acting appointment of a Warrant Officer Class I may be made in the field to fill a vacancy which may not be permanent due to any of (a) as in causes a to f listed above, until the substantive or temporary promotion had been authorised; (b) sent home due to being wounded or sick; (c) classified as PB [Permanent Base]; (d) withdrawn for munition work or transfer to reserve; (e) withdrawn to an Officer Cadet Unit; (f) transferred to the authorised war establishment of another unit; (g) sent home as “inefficient” or for discharge; (h) on formation of a temporary unit. A paid acting appointment will be given up as soon as the vacancy is permanently filled or the holder ceases to perform the duties of the rank.
Regarding the ranks of Warrant Officer Class II and Battery Quartermaster Sergeant
Substantive promotion [of Sergeants] may be given in the field to fill permanent vacancies in an authorised war establishment that arise due to (a) death; (b) discharge from service; (c) reduction in rank; (d) transfer to another unit; (e) gazetting to a commission or another cause of permanent nature; (f) increase in establishment or formation of new units.
Substantive promotion [of Sergeants] may also be given in the field to fill vacancies which may not be permanent, that arise due to (a) being made prisoner of war and officially announced as such; (b) declared missing and officially announced as such; (c) sent home due to being wounded or sick; (d) sent home as inefficient in the field; (e) classified “Permanent Base” after being evacuated to a base; (f) withdrawn for munition work or transfer to reserve; (g) withdrawn to an Officer Cadet Unit.
Pending a substantive promotion, an acting appointment may be used to fill the vacancy. They would revert when the substantive promotion was made.
Sergeants attached to ammunition parks would not be eligible for promotion until they were posted back to a unit of the Royal Artillery.
Army Council Instruction 1743 of 30 November 1917 (relating to Royal Artillery)
Under this ACI, the artillery appointment previously known as Acting Bombardier would be changed to Lance-Bombardier. The term “acting” that the Royal Artillery had been using differed from the way it was used in the other corps and this was in effect to bring it into line. The ACI also covered the nuances of paid and unpaid appointments with the Royal Artillery but that is something of a different subject to the one I am trying to cover in this article.
Army Council Instruction 541 of 16 May 1918
This ACI sought to clarify the procedures laid down in ACT 1701 of 1917 when it dealt with postings and transfers from one home unit to another home unit. It also cancelled some lines of ACI 337. It stated that on such a posting or transfer, a Warrant Officer or NCO holding or substantive or temporary rank would retain it. A man with an acting rank would retain it on joining his new unit. His seniority among others in the same acting rank in the new unit may mean that if no vacancy existed in the unit at that rank, that the most junior would need to be reverted. In other words, no supernumeraries would hold acting rank. (This is a complex matter and I refer anyone wishing to understand it in more detail to refer to the full text of the ACI.)
Army Council Instruction 386 of 1919
A Warrant Officer or NCO serving at home or overseas may be promoted to temporary rank for the period of the Armies of Occupation (up to 30 April 1920) to fill a vacancy in the authorised unit establishment arising from (a) death; (b) discharge from service; (c) promotion to higher rank; (d) reduction to lower rank; (e) transfer to another unit; (f) sent home for demobilisation.
Warrant Officers and NCOs currently holding acting rank may be promoted to temporary rank equivalent to their present acting rank on date of issue of this ACI.
Temporary ranks were to be treated for disciplinary purposes the same as a substantive rank.
This ACI did not apply to men serving in the Royal Engineers, Royal Army Service Corps, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, Royal Army Veterinary Corps, Royal Army Medical Corps, Army Pay Corps, Military Provost Staff Corps or Corps of Military Police. In these cases, acting rank could continue to fill vacancies in war establishments. It also did not apply to men serving in the North Russian Expeditionary Force.