Officer Ranks of the British Army in the American Revolution

[@darthrex354]

I like how "the sergeant teaches the junior officer" has been a continuous trope for 400 years.

[@BeKindToBirds]

It really hasn't changed much at all and it's been in use the whole time.

[@ThommyofThenn]

Makes sense, you can learn things from a hard man that you simply can't learn in a school. That practical learned-from-experience know how.

[@infogang3603]

I remember a book on the Post-9/11 British Army said that it's easier to think of it pre-WW1 as a confederation of regiments rather than a singular force.

[@currentcommentor8745]

There are still peculiarities between regiments today. But certainly more standardised than they once was.

[@wizardapprenticeIV]

@@currentcommentor8745 ignoring the obvious uniform and insignia differences. Iirc some regiments (even some batallions within a regiment in some cases) issue slightly different orders.

[@signoguns8501]

Thats a great way of putting it

[@BrandonF]

Real notification squad knows about how I forgot to update the title

[@CaptainFritz28]

Yeah, I saw the title as "UPDATED AD" and I was quite...intrigued.

[@justchillinghowaboutyou3174]

I was there!

[@hellacoorinna9995]

The Ensign is meant to die gallantly and make Richard Sharpe very sad.

[@vinz4066]

I was there Gandalf. 3000 yea- uhm 3 minutes ago

[@BrandonF]

WHERE WAS GONDOR WHEN BRANDON FORGOT TO UPDATE THE TITLE?

[@mikeyb856]

Hey Brandon. I asked you in a Livestream a while back if you'd recommend His Majesty's 10th regiment of foot as a reenactment group. I'm a grenadier now and am getting ready for my first time in the field at Battle Road and Lexington Green. I can't thank you enough as I've now found a wonderful group and a wonderful hobby!

[@BrandonF]

That's awesome! I hope you have a great time. Thanks for letting me know!

[@GeneralLiuofBoston1911]

His Majesty's 10th Regiment of Foot did amazing on the battle green this April! My first reenactment ever (woke up 3am to get there on time). I was taken aback by the sudden crowd booing once the battle had concluded though.

[@ChristheRedcoat]

Thanks for the shoutout, B! One of these days I'll get enough ad revenue to recoup the cost of that sash...

[@marxbruder]

heaven help you if you ever want an officer sash. Mine cost twice as much as my gorget.

[@88porpoise]

Going off my general knowledge, I would assume "captain lieutenant" was used over "lieutenant captain" because he is considered as a senior lieutenant not a junior captain. In the big picture, you have the Lieutenant General under the General (historically Captain General) and the Lieutenant Colonel under the Colonel, but just "Lieutenant" under the captain, effectively leaving all Lieutenants as Lieutenant Captains and the top among them is the captain of the lieutenants.😮

[@ianrastoski3346]

I believe you are right, too.

[@fragwagon]

Wonderfully documented as usual, Brandon. I always learn something new - this is the first time I have ever heard of the term bat-men for an officer’s servant. I look forward to digging a little more into Cuthbertson.

[@lilacheaven222]

Nice title 👌

[@thetimeywimeycornerofhisto4954]

Very informative and a great video as usual, sire! You are a very big inspiration for taking up history.

[@thorfinn_jorstinnsonr]

I would love to hear more about the uniform distinctions, especially the epaulettes; it's incredible to see how many uniforms differ from one another across the plethora of paintings we have, and it's quite hard to tell apart what should be regulation and what's just personal preference, haha

[@marxbruder]

The 1768 warrant doesn't say much about how an officer should dress. The main distinctions are that every officer should wear a gorget, a sash, and a sword, although the gorget and sash were often left in storage starting around 1777. Gorgets and swords were to be based on a pattern determined by the regimental colonel, although we know from surviving examples that there was variation within regiments as well. Both the gorget and sword hilt were to be either gold or silver (matching the buttons and officers' lace, and all dictated by the 1768 warrant for each regiment). The lace pattern (square loops vs bastion loops) I believe were determined by the colonel, but I could be mistaken. All lace patterns were recorded in an official book a little after the warrant was issued. Company commanders were to wear a single epaulet on their right shoulder, either gold or silver to match the buttons, lace, gorget, and sword. Field officers and grenadier company commanders wore an epaulet on both shoulders. Light officers didn't have a designated epaulet requirement, but the most common thing I've seen is for light officers to wear no epaulets, and instead have shoulder wings with the regimental lace (gold or silver). Grenadier officers didn't have wings, even though rank and file grenadiers did. You might also see officers with no lace on their button holes. The 1768 warrant says that the colonel of a regiment may choose to have his officers either go laceless, or to have embroidered button holes instead of laced ones. As long as all officers of the regiment were consistent, it was up to the colonel. Some regiments (like the Guards) received orders at various points in the American Revolution to remove the lace from their coats so they wouldn't stand out as much.

[@vinz4066]

Ah nice. This is about to be good. Btw. Do you Plan to do more detailed Videos about other countries armys as Well or are you going to Stick with the brits for now ?

[@BrandonF]

I don't think I'd go into quite this much detail on other armies because not only do I just genuinely know a lot less about them, but also a lot of the information would carry over.

[@b1laxson]

Checking into that Library on your Native Oak site. Well done lad. Very few actually put their primary sources open for others to read. It is both a lot of material and in that old time manual without illustration of the period so I remain humbly thankful for your own presentations as summaries of their contents.

[@BrandonF]

I'm glad you're finding them helpful!

[@Marinealver]

One thing I want to explore is why is it a Captain in the Navy outranks a Captain in the Army (as well as Air Force, Maine Corps, ect.)? I have a theory based on the origin of the word "Captain" and how titles and ranks function back then instead of how theu are treated now.

[@marxbruder]

A naval captain was the equivalent of an army colonel, because administratively (and as a unit of maneuver) a ship was the equivalent of a regiment.

[@acrylicsuperstar]

This is such great information. I have always found that these videos quite useful.

[@DERP_Squad]

In combat, ensigns would be responsible for relaying orders from more senior officers to the men. It meant the men could concentrate on fighting rather than listening out for orders from an officer who might be some distance away. The ensign would listen out for the orders being shouted by those officers and repeat them to the troops nearby. This had the advantage of aiding communication between the officers and troops in a time before radios. A further advantage was that it would teach the ensign how and when to issue commands by observation and get them used to commanding the troops even if they were only repeating a senior officers orders.

[@obi-wankenobi1233]

A clue to the lieutenant's responsibility is the word's etymology; in French, the word literally translates to 'place holder' (deriving from the words 'lieu' and 'tenant'). In times of need, a captain (which, in its turn, derives from the Latin 'cappo' meaning 'head') might need to step away from his administrative responsibilities, and as such might need someone to take his place.

[@garylancaster8612]

Interesting facts. I'd never heard of the etymology of the word lieutenant before. Interesting that the very French word was adopted and changed by the British (lefftenant) and the Germans (leutnant)

[@nullifye7816]

@@garylancaster8612 as I understand the Royal Navy takes the leff to be the abomination that it is, while the Army doesn't care, pointing out that it anglicises the word pleasantly, meaning "one 'left tenant' (holding) command".

[@bladeaddict3]

This is by far, the best, most informative channel on KZbin!!!

[@The_Honourable_Company]

May you please make a video about the imperial British cursad on the institution of slavery, and its impact and cost

[@History-togo]

cool to see you here 🙂

[@The_Honourable_Company]

@@History-togo ayo bro

[@Valkanna.Nublet]

I'd love a delve into the backgrounds of officer recruits, including just how many came from the ranks.

[@robertstallard7836]

In the 18th Century around 10% were former Sergeants. The rest came from a wide strata of society. Some (about a quarter) were from landowning classes but the rest would be sons of men in professions such as doctors, lawyers, businessmen and the like. Basically, today's middle class. It's not that much different today. About 20% of army officers are "late entrants" (promoted from the ranks) whilst the rest are a mix of all classes; Sandhurst has about half-and-half privately educated vs state educated. The RAF has about 35% of its officers promoted from the ranks. A not insignificant barrier to promotion from the ranks in the 18th Century was the ability to proficiently read and write. Whilst many could read and write to an extent, the standard wasn't always up to what was required for the compiling of often complex reports etc: something officers spent a lot of time doing. That's hardly surprising as most men who could read and write proficiently, probably wouldn't choose a career as a private soldier in the first place. Today, however, even the grottiest state school will be able to educate someone (who wants to learn!) to the standard required for officer entry.

[@Valkanna.Nublet]

@@robertstallard7836 Interesting, thanks :)

[@robertstallard7836]

@Uisdean If you search Brandon's site there's a whole video about it.

[@Pooknottin]

Very much looking forward to your next installment.

[@PrintAndPlayPodcast]

Looking dapper there, Brandon!

[@greenmountainhistory7335]

This is a bit long for an ad

[@greenmountainhistory7335]

And it’s already fixed

[@poil8351]

well captain lieutenant is guess a bit like the old sargent major general rank which eventually became major general which was confusing below a lieutenant general.

[@histman44]

I would love to watch a video about officers who came up from the ranks.

[@neilbuckley1613]

In the Cavalry the equivalent of an Ensign was a Cornet.

[@laughingseagull000]

Bump

[@AxDhan]

that sponsor was spot on xD claiming a science victory over the french using cthulhu advice is just what I needed

[@mr.gnome_3239]

Don’t usually comment but I feel compelled to compliment you on the slick suit. That tie is positively exquisite! All the best from Illinois!

[@BrandonF]

Much appreciated!

[@melvinwiels]

Sir, you should make a video where you pick a start topic. And then just rant about whatever you want. 10/10 would watch

[@vathek5958]

I’m interested and surprised to learn that junior officers at this time didn’t carry a pistol or two for self defence, as obviously they did in later periods (certainly by the point that revolvers started to be a thing). Any idea when this began?

[@isidroramos1073]

It's mere speculation but I'd say pistols didn't make a lot of sense as long as the battalion maneuvered as a unit and delivered (and received) fire in volleys... an activity that had to be closely supervised by its offficers. When the main role of those junior officers changed to controlling the maneuver of smaller units moving independently in open order them having small arms starts to seem quite more reasonable. Also, before 'smokeless' powder the officer firing a pistol would block his own line of sight quite efficiently...

[@wizardapprenticeIV]

Around the Crimean war is when its almost certain an infantry officer is carrying a pistol (though this trend had began in the napoleonic wars), it isnt until the 1870s that a semi-official method of carrying a pistol is adopted. Even in the Ashanti Expeditiom of 1873-4, General Wosely spends great lengths detailing what an officer ought to carry and wear, but neglects to mention a pistol.

[@urlichwichmann6456]

9:40 "science victory", splendid!

[@johjoh978]

im going to list french, drawing, and fortification on my next job application

[@HM10thFoot]

Great Video Brandon!

[@dukekevy6650]

I would also like officer ranks for the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars! It looks very interesting and I wish to know more.

[@b1laxson]

Thank you for the information and your own code of personal conduct.

[@MissJanePilato412]

Every time EVERYTIME I am in desperate need of information pertaining to millitary history without fail there is a video posted within 24 hours of me scouring the internet and asking other historians. And THANK YOU for the sources, you have no idea what that means to me

[@webcelt]

The officers raised from the rank is good future topic. I suspect many of us get our "facts" from watching the Sharpe's Rifles movies and wondering how accurate they are.

[@spheniscusdemersus]

Damn bro that tie is ultra spiffy

[@stephenbritton9297]

Interesting comparing an Ensign to a Midshipman of the same era. Mids (computer autocorrected to "kids," which odd enough is also correct) were given much more responsibility both day to day operation and admin of the ship as well as in battle. Meanwhile, ontop of a full day's work, they also were tasked with learning the art and science of navigation, gunnery, small arms, and such.

[@kleinjahr]

So, ensigns were the army equivalent of midshipmen in the navy.

[@robowisanveithasung6022]

more or less

[@alessandrok.9684]

Can you please do the NCOs next?

[@243regiment]

7:41 hype the 43rd got a feature :)

[@jamesstallard4832]

The homemade ads are my favourite haha

[@ByJingo76]

Thanks!

[@BrandonF]

Thank you very much! That is very generous of you and much appreciated!

[@stevekaczynski3793]

I didn't know there could be more than two ensigns in a unit. So a new bit of information for me.

[@micahistory]

interesting video. I never knew about this

[@History-togo]

cool video!

[@BRODYSAV]

love it man keep it up

[@The_Honourable_Company]

Also, when are you making your video on the battle of Camden in patriot you were talking about?

[@BrandonF]

It will be the next one- or at least second to last, depending on when a book I ordered gets in!

[@The_Honourable_Company]

@@BrandonF also, will you ever discuss about the opium war in one of your videos?

[@BrandonF]

@@The_Honourable_Company One of these days!

[@The_Honourable_Company]

@@BrandonF after all, we get vids about this topic in a very biased approach, against Britain of course Great Britain is no more than a mere punching bag for those people who don't even learn the full history of it

[@BrandonF]

Well, while that is true, let's be fair- the Opium Wars were pretty gross

[@harrisonbrothersvideos6104]

Nice suit Brandon!

[@jamesvandemark2086]

I'm getting a real feel for why my family trended towards Sea Officers!

[@stevetaylor8698]

Commisioned officers were clearly much better fed - going by the first pic.

[@00muinamir]

3:38 Okay, so is there a reason to disbelieve the story of Braddock being carried off on his own sash? Because while I doubt that was terribly common practice, it doesn't strike me as impossible in the specific case of the Braddock sash, which is pretty darn big and made of worsted silk.

[@ChristheRedcoat]

I actually touched on that in my sash video! Long story short, tests have been done with a reproduction of Braddock's sash that show that it could plausibly withstand the weight of a person. But as you mentioned, Braddock's sash is a different type of sash - it was meant to be worn over the shoulder and thus has more material. Sashes from the AWI period are meant to be worn around the waist, so they're much smaller.

[@00muinamir]

@@ChristheRedcoat Thanks Chris. So when was the over-the-shoulder sash generally phased out in favor of the waist sash in the British Army?

[@spiffygonzales5160]

I could see there being exceptions to every rule listed in these videos. Like in modern war would people fight in their underwear? Nah. But you still hear cases in Ukraine where there'll be some bombardment while guys are sleeping when suddenly lo and behold you're outside in your draws all night waiting for the shelling to stop.

[@ChristheRedcoat]

@@00muinamir Unclear. There are paintings depicting officers with shoulder sashes as late as at least 1770, but by the time the war broke out in 1775 they seem to have mostly been phased out.

[@JUANR198729]

you should make a video of carnaval de huegotzingo its a extreme festival where kids and adults participate where they act the battle of puebla 5 de mayo

[@JUANR198729]

please respond!

[@theairsoftpro2014]

Great video as always, fine sir. Something I was wondering during the Ensign part was the possibility of a "Gentlemen Volunteer" as mentioned in other videos. I recall in a handful of sources that even mention them that they effectively fight as any other ranker in battle but are more often camped with the officers when out of battle than stuck in with the other ranks. If in the case that a regiment had a collection of Gentlemen Volunteers with the Ensigns, how do the both of them get treated in accordance of their "On the job" Training, or would GVs need to wait until they gain their Ensigncy Commission before they would be properly trained as officers?

[@exploatores]

I tink Gentlemen Volunteers arn´t going to be officers. If you having officers training you are a Ensign. GVs are one of those pepole that don´t realy fit. the rank structure. as their military rank makes them soldiers or NCO. but social status makes them gentlemen.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

As I understand it a "Gentleman Volunteer" was someone who aspired to an officer's rank but couldn't afford the purchase price of a commission. He could (with the colonel's permission) attach himself to a particular regiment as a volunteer, be treated with the military courtesies afforded to an officer, but hold no actual rank. How well he performed in garrison duties or on the battlefield might get him a direct commission (if there was an opening for various reasons) from the colonel without purchasing it outright. It goes without saying the GV would be getting his on-the-job training while in his volunteer status. If anyone wants to correct me on this feel more than free to do so!

[@oliversherman2414]

Interesting video

[@marxbruder]

I think Lieutenant Captain vs Captain Lieutenant is because in this case Lieutenant is the noun and captain an adjective. English puts the adjective before the noun it modifies, thus the rank is captain lieutenant (a lieutenant who is captain-y)

[@acrylicsuperstar]

The one thing i do know for a fact, is that many officers had two or three coats. Used for either the parade grounds or on a war campaign.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

And in North America an officer didn't want to stand out TOO much if there were riflemen lurking about. So an officer wearing a plain brick-red enlisted man's coat (with some slight officer's embellishments) and carrying a fusee (which would look like a plain ol' musket from a distance) would make perfect sense.

[@marxbruder]

Brown suits show up REALLY frequently in inventories of officers' baggage.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

@@marxbruder Now that's interesting. However I'd guess they were for off-duty wear, something plain and durable. I'd think even the most concientious CO who didn't mind his officers dressing down a bit in battle would draw the line at them wearing a plain brown suit in combat. (OK, General Picton was wearing civvies at Waterloo but that was because his baggage hadn't caught up with him yet, he was in a rush to get there.)

[@95DarkFire]

15:22 It actually makes a lot of sense sense. The Lt-Colonel is "Lieutenant TO the Colonel". A Lieutenant-Captain would be the "Lieutenant to the Captain", but that rank already exists: the normal Lieutenant. The term "Captain-Lieutenant" describes a Lieutenant who acts like a Captain.

[@imdeplorable2241]

I have an ancestor who was Captain-Lieutenant in the 2nd NY Regiment during the Revolution. In my research, I learned that, ideally, a regiment consisted of 10 companies, with 9 captains and 1 lieutenant-colonel, the regimental commander. The lieutenant-colonel's company was actually commanded by a "captain-lieutenant" while the lieutenant-colonel was attending to other duties. So, he was, essentially, the company commander of the lieutenant-colonel's company.

[@Purple_694]

I now want a fusee… thank you good sir.

[@VitaminsB1212]

Sooo could you please actually get around to doing a video discussing the origins of the officers/promotion from the ranks/purchase system and the misconceptions around the subject? You've threatened to a couple times and I believe it would add a lot to this series in particular. Since popular conception of British officers heavily cloud our perception of the army as a whole and the officer class in particular??? Pretty please?

[@PickleIsMyDoggo]

Great jobs

[@melissamybubbles6139]

Hi. I've never been interested in the military aspects of the eighteenth century, but you make it so interesting. Thank you for being here on the internet.

[@stevekaczynski3793]

I don't think formal rank insignia was introduced in the British Army among officers until the end of the 1840s. A film about Ireland in the Famine, "Black '47", had a scene where a captain and a lieutenant are talking, and there is no visible difference in their uniforms at all. Later a lieutenant-colonel is shown - he has heavier epaulettes and more braid but still, nothing like definite rank badges. By the time of the Crimean War, a portrait of a lieutenant showed him with two pips on the collar, so rank badges were coming in by then.

[@yeslol9303]

Brandon, can you cover the British home front during the revolutionary war?

[@woltews]

I am currently a member of a Commonwealth military unit commanded by a captain with 2 majors under the captain I alternative work for and command a cpl who is a troop warrant who sometimes commands me and I sometimes command

[@Winaska]

I was intrigued by the idea that colours were often not present on the field during the AWI. Is there any more info on why this was? Was this also true of the French and Indian War?

[@alexandersmall7380]

Could you do a video on Regimental Standards and the like? Thanks!

[@CaptainChip501]

Ah. One thing we can agree on. RANKS!

[@francismarion1786]

Are there any videos or other resources that you'd recommend on the Continental Army officer ranks and their duties?

[@dat_spartan_gamer7322]

Even today when a baby faced 2lt or ensign gets to his first unit, it’s the platoons gunny or divisions chief that runs the joint. Most good JOs know that their job it to listen and learn from their NCOs and keep the shit from rolling downhill. Something’s never change

[@jamesverhoff1899]

The accounting side of things gets downplayed in a lot of military history, but the saying goes amateurs talk tactics, professionals talk logistics. It's one thing to raise a body of armed men--any press gang can do that. It's a whole other thing to feed and cloth them. Remember, we're still talking about a period where much of the clothing is made by hand and food production (read "grain production" as the vast majority of the diets of this time, especially the military diets, were grain-based) was only slightly more mechanized. These armies pushed the limits of what pre-industrial societies could sustain in terms of logistics and materials. This became hugely important in warfare at the time. Blockades weren't a psychological thing, but a very effective way to deny the enemy resources. While they could transport clothing across the Atlantic (assuming they could get here despite storms, privateers, and the French), transporting food was a logistical nightmare, which left the army reliant on local sources. Sources held by or vulnerable to hostile action by rebels (from their perspective) and native tribes. In a very real sense, wars are won and lost on those accounting and paperwork concerns that get almost hand-waved away in most discussions of military history.

[@carlandersson2185]

Not on topic but if you want more interesting reading about captain-lieutenants though not in the british army you should look up the swedish Drabant Corps.

[@PickleRick65]

I like that suit 💪

[@thedoctor4637]

Could you make a version of regiment format (like your British one) for the Continental forces with a mixture of this video format. I know your more of an export in the British forces. If not, could you point me to a good resource for this?

[@wassup2271]

Hi Brandon, I was wondering if you could make list about your favourite military history books relating to 18th and 19th century. I really enjoy your videos and want to further my research with resources of your recomendatiton.

[@BrandonF]

I actually have a 'recommended reading' list on my website, alongside a library of primary sources. You can find it at Nativeoak.org

[@JohnnyRep-u4e]

"Tolerably Perfect"

[@davehopkin9502]

Dont forget Malbrough was a Capitain General!!!!

[@greenriverviews6819]

dapper !

[@OctaBech]

I am a simple person, when I see "updated ad" from Brandon, I click

[@sonne30poland30]

can you tell me what the british army major's epaulettes looked like during the war of independence ?

[@dumnonianwarrior5920]

My great gran farther served as a officer in the British army during ww1 Royal Engineers. He had to buy all his own uniform and guns for service. He had two pistols both which he destroyed after ww2 when the gun laws came in. I still have his belts and holsters unfortunately lost his medals to family.

[@dasy2k1]

So how accurate is the trope of sending a young ensign to the top of a nearby Hill or tall tree with a glass to observe the enemy's formation with a couple of privates as runners to take messages back to the other officers?

[@robowisanveithasung6022]

does not seen far fetched, although this was most likely done by skirmisher or light infantry ensigns as line infantry ensigns were commonly attached as a part of a line formation and wouldn’t scout ahead

[@thetimeywimeycornerofhisto4954]

I must ask (a a napoleonic man myself), did much change by roughly 1805? Or was it extremely similar? (I understand uniforms changed for officers by the time). If not, can anyone suggest any videos or explanations? Thanks!

[@BrandonF]

I'd imagine the roles would have gained some complexity and a greater degree of formality in that time, but most of the principles outlined here would have been the same. I'm afraid I am not yet as familiar with Napoleonic era sources. Dundas would be my first go-to. He's also on my website!

[@BernddasBrotB7]

Proper taste in Batmen, I see!

[@zachv1942]

A Brandon_F Video under 30. The Shock, The horror.

[@arthurdowney2846]

I would love to hear you talk about emancipated slaves and runaways who joined the British army during the American revolutionary war. How did British army camps manage the thousands of enslaved people who flocked to their camps? How were emancipated men trained and provisioned, and were they paid? Did negro regiments from the British and the Colonial armies ever fight each other?

[@Eric_Hutton.1980]

What was the Army equivalent of the Commodore in the 18th century.

[@JohnyG29]

Brigadier would be the equivalent army rank to a modern day RN commodore. However, in the 18th/19th centuries, a Commodore was a temporary title given to the most senior captain of a squadron of ships. Once that squadron was broken up, he'd just be a Captain again.

[@Tinil0]

Did you link the other videos anywhere? I don't seem to see that...

[@BrandonF]

In the video description

[@robhogg68]

For showing respect to our Lord Chtulhu...

[@BrandonF]

Hey, that's much appreciated, thank you! ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn

[@SampoPaalanen]

Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't the sword and pistol more 19th century to early World War One thing when repeater pistols were a thing rathern then a 18th century thing?

[@ChristheRedcoat]

Swords continue to be a thing in the 19th century as well as the 18th century, but yes, pistols for the most part are very much a 19th century and onwards thing.

[@zachv1942]

North America had an Officer Shorage. I wonder why?.

[@sirfox950]

Yeah, Brandon definitely looks like a spadroon guy

[@AndrewIsbell]

Too much time spent on logistics and uniform buying but I watched this wanting to hear their role in combat. You mention in the conclusion that they lead from the front but I wish you would spend more time on that

[@BrandonF]

For that I’d recommend the video on Combat Organisation which is also in this series. There I cover the subdivision, grand division, etc. and it probably answers many of your questions including who was commanding what levels of men in combat.

[@paulconrad6220]

4:36 Saber gang here

[@podemosurss8316]

The British system sure was complicated. I mean, in most continental armies, the administrative and combat units were the same.

[@robowisanveithasung6022]

look at the Heers organization in ww2 and you’ll be dead from brain damage

[@shaharyarsheikh5291]

Did cornets not exist yet?

[@BrandonF]

That's a cavalry thing- this video is specifically about the infantry. Should have mentioned that in the video proper!

[@shaharyarsheikh5291]

@@BrandonF ah I understand. I was wondering why you werent talking about cavalry at all. Makes sense now. Thankyou for clearing it up.

[@orionspero560]

Have you found any evidence for the notion that the colonel was supplementing the lutenant captain's pay up toward that of a captain in most cases?

[@BrandonF]

I can't say I've heard of that before, but I wouldn't be surprised to learn it in some cases at least. I've not found much on their pay.

[@orionspero560]

@@BrandonF Honestly my sourcing on that is pretty marginal and I haven't been able to find it in the good sources.

[@alansmithee8831]

Hello Brandon. With my family being workers from Keighley, like Sharpe on TV, they all joined as other ranks this last century. It seems that with my knowledge of French and having designed a model village to go with a program for kids to design castles, that I would approach junior officer qualifications, though I reckon with my science and maths background that I would be destined for the artillery. I suppose if it were RHA, with a stylish Tarleton helmet, it would not be so bad. Nice tie.

[@brotou4.10]

Well done Brandon.

[@bobstine3785]

Subaltern?