Field Marshal

Field Marshal is the highest military officer rank in the British Army and several Commonwealth armies. It is equivalent to General of the Army (five-star general) in the United States Army.

Origins

The word "marshal" comes from the Frankish marescalci, or Master of the Horse. In medieval kingdoms, the marshal was generally an officer of the royal household responsible for commanding the king's cavalry troops; he was usually subordinate to the Constable, the commander of the king's army.

In the British Army, the rank of Field Marshal was created in 1736 by King George III, when it was conferred on the 1st Earl of Orkney.

British Army

The British Army no longer promotes new Field Marshals in peacetime; the last officer to be appointed to the rank was Lord Inge, former Chief of Defence Staff, in 1994. However, the rank still formally exists, fulfilling a similar role to General of the Army in the United States Army.

Notable historical British Army Field Marshals include the Duke of Wellington, Bernard Montgomery and William Slim.

The rank insignia of a Field Marshal consist of crossed batons over a laurel wreath, and a crown.

Other armies

Several other armies use the rank, particularly those in the Commonwealth.

Australia

The rank of Field Marshal exists in the Australian Army, though it is rarely used due to the army's small size. The only native-born Australian ever to hold the rank was Sir Thomas Blamey, a Second World War general, who was promoted to the rank on 2 June 1950. The only current (honorary) holder of the rank is HRH the Duke of Edinburgh; his rank is purely ceremonial and he has no active role in the Australian armed forces.

New Zealand

The rank of Field Marshal in the New Zealand Army has been held since 1954 by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh.

Pakistan

The rank of Field Marshal in the Pakistan Army was held by Ayub Khan, a Pakistani general who served as President of Pakistan from 1958 to 1969.