Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lieutenant Colonel
Lt Col insignia.
Country	United Kingdom
Service branch	British Army  Royal Marines
Abbreviation	Lt Col
NATO rank	OF-4
Next higher rank	Colonel
Next lower rank	Major
Equivalent ranks	Commander (RN) Wing commander (RAF)

A Lieutenant Colonel (often shortened to Lt. Col.) is an important rank in the British Army and Royal Marines. Many other countries in the Commonwealth also use this rank. It is a higher rank than a Major but lower than a Colonel.

If you were in the Royal Navy, the similar rank would be a Commander. In the Royal Air Force (RAF) and other Commonwealth air forces, it's called a Wing Commander.

What Does a Lieutenant Colonel Do?

In the modern British Armed Forces, a Lieutenant Colonel usually leads a large group of soldiers. This group is often called a regiment or a battalion. They are in charge of planning and carrying out missions. They also make sure their soldiers are well-trained and ready.

Understanding the Rank Badge

The special badge that a Lieutenant Colonel wears is called an insignia. In the British Army and Royal Marines, it looks like a crown above a four-pointed star. This star is sometimes called a "pip." The crown on the badge changes over time. It depends on which monarch is ruling the country. The current crown used is the Tudor Crown. Most other Commonwealth countries use a similar badge. Sometimes, they replace the crown with their own country's emblem.

A Bit of History with the RAF

For a short time, from April 1, 1918, to July 31, 1919, the Royal Air Force also used the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After that, on August 1, 1919, they changed it to the rank of Wing Commander.

Historical Insignia

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  1810 to 1855 lieutenant colonel's shoulder rank insignia

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  1856 to 1867 lieutenant colonel's collar rank insignia

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  1867 to 1880 lieutenant colonel's collar rank insignia

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  1881 to 1902 lieutenant colonel's shoulder rank insignia

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  1902 to 1920 lieutenant colonel's sleeve cuff rank insignia

See also

• British and U.S. military ranks compared
• British Army Other Ranks rank insignia
• British Army officer rank insignia