Ensign (officer)

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The Ensign (debate [ ɛnsən ]) is or was in the English-speaking world, a soldier in the lowest officer - rank of Infantry or Marine .

The term is derived from the troop flag or sea ​​flag , also called Ensign , which was traditionally worn by the youngest officer. Etymologically, the late Middle English word Ensign comes from the Old French enseigne and this from the Latin insignia ("official sign"). The terminology corresponds to that of the German ensign , but the ensign is an officer (with an officer’s license ) and not an officer candidate and in this respect is more likely to be equated with the sub-lieutenant or lieutenant .

In the British Army , infantry regiments used the ensign as the lowest rank of officer. In cavalry regiments this rank was called Cornet , in the Royal Artillery , the Royal Engineers and Fusilier and Jäger regiments it was called Second Lieutenant . In 1871 the ranks of Ensign and Cornet were renamed Sub-Lieutenant as part of the Cardwell reforms and finally in 1877 uniformly renamed Second Lieutenant . The US Army abolished the ranks of Ensign and Cornet in 1815 in favor of Second Lieutenant .

In the navy, the ensign, as the lowest officer rank, corresponds to the German lieutenant at sea . In the Royal Navy , the rank of Ensign was abolished in 1871 in favor of the sub-lieutenant . With the US Navy and Coast Guard , the rank of Ensign still exists today.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Edward M. Spiers: The Late Victorian Army, 1868-1902. Manchester University Press, 1992, ISBN 0719026598 , p. 106.
  2. ↑ Spencer C. Tucker: The Encyclopedia of the Wars of the Early American Republic, 1783-1812. Volume 1, ABC-CLIO, Santa Barbara 2014, ISBN 1598841572 , p. 973.

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