Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)

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Please see lieutenant colonel for other countries which use this rank

Lieutenant colonel is a rank in the British Army and Royal Marines which is also used in many Commonwealth countries. The rank is superior to major, and subordinate to colonel.[1] The comparable Royal Navy rank is commander, and the comparable rank in the Royal Air Force and many Commonwealth air forces is wing commander.

The rank insignia in the British Army and Royal Marines, as well as many Commonwealth countries, is a crown above a 4 pointed "Bath" star, also colloquially referred to as a "pip". The crown has varied in the past with different monarchs; the current one being the Crown of St Edward. Most other Commonwealth countries use the same insignia, or with the state emblem replacing the crown.

In modern British forces, a lieutenant colonel usually commands a regiment (in the artillery and armoured regiments) or a battalion in the infantry.

From 1 April 1918 to 31 July 1919, the Royal Air Force maintained the rank of lieutenant colonel. It was superseded by the rank of wing commander on the following day.

Historical Insignia[edit]


  1. ^ "Ranks". British Army Website. Retrieved 22 December 2013.