Rank and Responsibility

►Table of Ranks & Responsibilities ►Table of Ranks & Appointments ►Staff Officers ►Rank & Appt Abbreviations

Ranks ►Generals ►►General ►►Lieutenant General ►►Major General ►►Brigadier General ►Officers ►►Brigadier (1928-1968) ►►Col.-Commandant (1922-1928) ►►Colonel ►►Lieutenant Colonel ►►Major ►►Captain ►►Lieutenant ►►2nd Lieutenant ►►Officer Cadet ►Warrant Officers ►►Chief Warrant Officer (1968-) ►►W.O. Class I (1915-1968) ►►Master Warrant Officer (1968-) ►►W.O. Class II (1915-1968) ►►Warrant Officer (1968-) ►►W.O. Class III (1939-1945) ►Non-Commissioned Officers ►►Staff Sergeant (1900-1968) ►►Sergeant ►►Lance Sergeant (1900-1968) ►►Master Corporal (1968-2000+) ►►Corporal ►►Lance Corporal  (1900-1968) ►Non-Commissioned Mbrs (Men) ►►Private

Appointments ►Conductor ►Master Gunner ►Platoon Sergeant Major

Honorary Ranks ►Colonel-in-Chief ►Colonel of the Regiment ►Honorary Colonel ►Colonel Commandant

Master Gunner

Master Gunner has been a long standing appointment in the Canadian Army, awarded to senior Warrant Officers of the Royal Canadian Artillery and Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery.

Insignia

From the Standing Orders of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery:

ARMS OF THE ROYAL REGIMENT OF CANADIAN ARTILLERY

1. Before 1832, the Royal Artillery used the Ordnance Arms or the Royal Cypher as part of the insignia on its buttons and badges. The Ordnance Arms had as their central devices three cannons and three cannonballs. The Royal Cypher consisted of either the garter and motto surmounted by a crown enclosing the monarch’s monogramme or the monarch’s monogramme alone surmounted by a crown.

2. In 1832, the Royal Arms with supporters, together with the mottos “Ubique” and “Quo fas et gloria ducunt” and a cannon were granted to the Royal Regiment of Artillery as a badge by warrant of William IV. In this form, it constituted the full achievement of the gunner badge. The more flamboyant uniforms of that time enabled this large badge to be displayed effectively. For the next hundred years, it was featured on shako stars, helmet plates, shoulder belt plates, sabretaches, cross belt pouches and busby plume holders.

3. Canadian gunners adopted the “Full Achievement of the Badge” and it was used from 1855 as a helmet plate and on sabretaches and cross belt pouches. “Canada” was used instead of the motto “Ubique”.

4. The Arms of the Royal Regiment of Artillery are the source of the rank badges traditionally worn by Chief Warrant Officers and Master Gunners. The Royal Arms were first used as an arm badge by all Warrant Officers Class 1 in 1915. Since 1945, the Arms of Canada have been used and this practice continues today with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer. The gun has been part of the badge of all Master Gunners since 1864. From 1915 to 1945 the Royal Arms were worn above the gun. In Canada since 1945 the gun badge alone (always pointing forward) has been the badge of the Master Gunner.

5. The Director of Ceremonial authorized the use of the “Full Achievement of the Badge” on 29 June 1988 for special ceremonial purposes such as on commendations and certificates.

Master Gunner 1st Class 1915-Unification	Master Gunner 2nd Class 1915-Unification	Master Gunner 3rd Class 1915-1939(?)	Master Gunner 3rd Class 1939-Unification

Forms of Address

From RCA Standing Orders:

The title “Master Gunner” may be used by all graduates of the Master Gunner course. It may be used both as a form of address and when referring to the individual in question. It may not be used in place of rank in formal correspondence. Traditionally, in correspondence, the title is placed in parentheses after the rank, in the form, Chief Warrant Officer (Master Gunner) or CWO (Mr Gnr).