THE SPECIAL AIR SERVICE (SAS)

      Special Forces. Founded in 1941. Small team and covert actions. Snipers, stealth and combat. Motto: ‘Who dares wins’.

       THE SPECIAL RECONNAISSANCE REGIMENT (SRR)

      Special Forces. Formed 2005. Surveillance and reconnaissance. Counter-terrorism.

       THE CORPS OF ROYAL ENGINEERS

      Combat engineers or ‘Sappers’ provide support to the rest of the Army in war and peacetime. Duties include bomb disposal, bridge building, diving, communications and maintenance of armoured vehicles. The regiments are: 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th Commando, 26th, 32nd, 33rd, 35th, 36th, 39th and 42nd.

       THE ROYAL CORPS OF SIGNALS

      Formed in 1920, signals regiments deploy wherever the main army or special forces go. They are responsible for communications, digital security and electronic warfare. The signals regiments are: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 10th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 18th, 21st, 22nd, 30th.

       THE ROYAL LOGISTIC CORPS

      The logistic corps provides ammunition, parts, rations, food, water and whatever else the rest of the army needs to function. The regiments are: 1st, 3rd and 4th Close Support Regiments; 6th and 7th Force Logistic Regiments; 9th Theatre Logistic Regiment; 10th Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment; 11th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment; 13th Air Assault Regiment; 17th Port and Maritime Regiment; 27th, 29th Regiments. They use heavy transport vehicles like the Mastiff.

       ARMY AIR CORPS

      Combat air support is provided by helicopters and fixed-wing planes. The regiments are 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th, and they use Apache helicopters as well as the Lynx.

       THE CORPS OF ROYAL ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERS

      Six battalions. They maintain all equipment, including tanks and helicopters. Motto: ARTE ET MARTE – ‘By skill and fighting’.

       ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS

      Six regiments. Formed in 1898. Non-combatant, though they may use their weapons in self-defence. Provides vital surgery for the wounded. Maintains the health of the rest of the army. Regiments are: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 16th. There are also three field hospitals: 22nd, 33rd and 34th.

      There are a number of other corps and services in the Army, as might be expected to administer so many, often far from home and under extreme conditions. These are: Queen Alexandra’s Royal Nursing Corps (nursing), Adjutant General’s Corps (administration), Intelligence Corps (intelligence), Royal Army Veterinary Corps (animals, mostly dogs), Small Arms School Corps (small arms training), Royal Army Dental Corps, Royal Military Police, Military Bands and the Royal Army Physical Training Corps – Motto: MENS SANA IN CORPORE SANO – ‘A healthy mind in a healthy body’.

      Finally, there is a Royal Gibraltar Regiment, defending the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. In Bermuda, the Royal Bermuda Regiment defends the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda. This is not part of the British Army but can request training and operational support if needed. The Commander-in-Chief is the Bermudan Governor General.

      Around another 30,000 soldiers can be counted in various reserves, such as the Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry, or the Royal Wessex Yeomanry, always available to be called up.

      ‘There is no beating these troops, in spite of their generals. I always thought them bad soldiers, now I am sure of it. I turned their right, pierced their centre, broke them everywhere; the day was mine, and yet they did not know it and would not run.’

      French Marshal Soult, commenting on the British infantry as he retreated in 1811

      RANKS IN THE BRITISH ARMY

      ‘OTHER’ OR NON-COMMISSIONED RANKS

      PRIVATE – Trooper, Gunner, Sapper, Kingsman etc., depending on regiment.

      LANCE CORPORAL – in charge of four soldiers.

      CORPORAL – in charge of more soldiers and equipment.

      SERGEANT – senior role, often second in command of thirty soldiers.

      STAFF OR COLOUR SERGEANT – senior role, managing 120 soldiers.

      WARRANT OFFICER CLASS 2 (Company Sergeant Major) – senior adviser to the Major in command of the unit.

      WARRANT OFFICER CLASS 1 (Regimental Sergeant Major) – senior adviser to the Commanding Officer, responsible for up to 650 men.

       OFFICER OR COMMISSIONED RANKS

      OFFICER CADET – rank held while training at Sandhurst.

      SECOND LIEUTENANT – first rank on being commissioned.

      LIEUTENANT – in command of around thirty soldiers.

      CAPTAIN – second in command of 120, equivalent to Roman optio.

      MAJOR – in command of 120, equivalent to Roman centurion.

      LIEUTENANT COLONEL – in command of 650.

      COLONEL – staff rather than field rank.

      BRIGADIER – commands a brigade.

      MAJOR GENERAL – commands a division, and Sandhurst Military Academy.

      LIEUTENANT GENERAL – very senior role, commands a corps.

      GENERAL – highest rank available to serving officers.

      FIELD MARSHAL – highest honorary rank.