Field Marshal (United Kingdom)

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Please see "Field Marshal" for other countries which use this rank

Field Marshal Viscount Slim in his Field Marshal's uniform, holding a marshal's baton.

The flag of a Field Marshal is the Union Flag.^[1]

Field Marshal is the highest military rank of the United Kingdom, equivalent to a General of the Army in other countries such as the USA. It ranks immediately above the rank of General and is the Army equivalent to an Admiral of the Fleet and Marshal of the Royal Air Force.

The rank insignia of a Field Marshal in the British Army comprises two crossed batons on a wreath, with a crown above. In some other countries, historically under the sphere of British influence, an adapted version of the insignia is used for Field Marshals, often with the crown being replaced with an alternative cultural or national emblem.

The office of Marshal was known in England from the 12th century, but in the introduction of the modern military title Great Britain was a relative latecomer. It was introduced by George I, the first King of the House of Hanover, in the style of the continental armies. The 1st Earl of Orkney became the first Field Marshal in 1736.

During the early part of the 20th century the Chief of the Imperial General Staff was usually a Field Marshal. After the creation of the office of Chief of the Defence Staff, Army occupants of the office were Field Marshals until the 1990s. Now no Field Marshals are to be routinely appointed in peacetime, the last being Field Marshal Lord Inge, although members of the Royal Family and certain other very senior officers are still eligible to be appointed (none has, however, been appointed since the general suspension of promotions to the rank). The rank of Field Marshal is the only rank in the British Army where the individual never officially retires, as the rank is conferred for life.

Although traditionally the British monarch is a Field Marshal, Queen Elizabeth II does not hold that rank, and the Prince of Wales has been said to have indicated an unwillingness to be the only five-star officer of the armed forces^{[citation needed]}. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Edward, Duke of Kent are two of the few remaining Field Marshals of the British Army.

The Royal Marines do not have an equivalent rank to Field Marshal, although the position of Captain General has the same insignia an Army Field Marshal.

[edit] See also

List of British Field Marshals

[edit] Notes

^ Bartram, Graham (2005-08-29). United Kingdom: Ministry of Defence and army (EN). Flags of the World. Retrieved on 2006-6-1.

v • d • e Commissioned Officer ranks of the British Armed Forces
	Student Officer	OF(D)	OF-1		OF-2	OF-3	OF-4	OF-5	OF-6	OF-7	OF-8	OF-9	OF-10
Royal Navy	O Cdt	Mid	SLt		Lt	Lt Cdr	Cdr	Capt	Cdre	RAdm	VAdm	Adm	Adm of the Fleet
Royal Marines			2Lt	Lt	Capt	Maj	Lt Col	Col	Brig	Maj-Gen	Lt Gen	Gen
Army	O Cdt		2Lt	Lt	Capt	Maj	Lt Col	Col	Brig	Maj-Gen	Lt Gen	Gen	FM
Royal Air Force	OC		APO / Plt Off	Fg Off	Flt Lt	Sqn Ldr	Wg Cdr	Gp Capt	Air Cdre	AVM	Air Mshl	Air Chf Mshl	MRAF