RANK AND ARM OF SERVICE INSIGNIA.

RANK INSIGNIA.

Readers may have noticed on previous photos that there are coloured stripes on the shank (between the thread and head) of some screws. These colours indicate the rank of the individual. Privates have no insignia. The rank colour combinations are based on four colours, silver, red, white and gold.

Ranks are denoted as follows:

One thin silver stripe equals corporal. 

A thick silver stripe equals sergeant. 

Two thin silver stripes equals sergeant major. 

A thick stripe of half silver and half red equals lieutenant. 

A thick red stripe equals captain. 

A thick stripe of half red and half white equals major. 

A thick white stripe equals  lieutenant colonel. 

A thick stripe of half white and half gold equals full colonel. 

A thick gold stripe equals one star brigadier general. 

Two thin gold stripes equals two star major general. 

Two thin gold stripes with a silver centre stripe equals three star lieutenant  general. 

Two thin gold stripes with a red central stripe equals four star general. 

Lastly two thin gold stripes with a white central stripe equals five star general of the army, the commander in chief.

This photo shows, from left to right, captain, lieutenant, sergeant major and sergeant. These soldiers all have a brown top which indicates they are quartermaster troops.

This photo shows from left to right, three star lieutenant general, two star major general, full colonel and major.  These soldiers have red tops which denotes they are staff troops.

ARM OF SERVICE INSIGNIA.

All soldiers, regardless of rank,  have a coloured top which denotes the arm of service as shown in the photos above. The  colours are as follows:

brown for quartermaster,

red for staff,

blue for infantry, 

black for field artillery, 

sand yellow for pioneers, 

sky blue for heavy weapons, 

purple for cavalry, 

white for medical, 

silver for signals, 

dark green for field police, 

orange for heavy artillery, 

pale green for horse artillery, 

gray for workshop engineers and finally,

gold for veterinary and farriers.