Recruitment in the British Army from families with a military tradition. (This contrasted with the Navy, whose officers were more often from a middle-class background.) The second son of King George III, Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany, did much to improve the standard of officer recruitment from his position as Commander in Chief of the Army (from 1795 to 1809, then from 1811 to 1827). The sale of commissions, finally abolished in the Cardwell reforms in 1868–1874, and the further Childers Reforms. In spite of its abolition, the status of an officer being from a privileged background and that of another rank being
Cornet (rank) cornet was used in the South African Army from 1960 to 1968. The subaltern rank of "cornet" was the equivalent of the contemporary infantry rank of ensign, today's second lieutenant in each. The cornet carried the troop standard, known as a "guidon". Cornet (rank) Cornet was originally the third and lowest grade of commissioned officer in a British cavalry troop, after captain and lieutenant. It was abolished in the Cardwell Reforms of 1871 and replaced by sub-lieutenant. It is equivalent to a modern second lieutenant. The term today is restricted to internal regimental use when referring to a Second Lieutenant