For non-military meanings, see major (disambiguation).
In the US Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and the British Army, a major is a commissioned officer superior to a captain and inferior to a lieutenant colonel. The equivalent rank in the US Navy is Lieutenant Commander.
The insignia for all three US positions is a gold oak leaf. In the British Army and Royal Marines, a major wears a single crown. The crown has varied in the past with different monarchs; the current one being the Crown of St Edward.
The word major is also used for superior army ranks, such as Sergeant Major, Drum-Major and Major-General.
In the military of Germany, Major is one of the oldest existing ranks, dating to the 17th century. The German version of the rank is pronounced Mi'or but spelled the same as in English.
As Cruickshank was a Canadian the Major rank is represented by 3 bars. Two 1 cm thick bars with a 1/2 cm bar inbetween them. All officer bars are of gold thread.
See also
