Colour sergeant

Colour sergeant or color sergeant (CSgt or C/Sgt) is a rank of non-commissioned officer found in several militaries.

Colour sergeant (CSgt or formerly C/Sgt) is a non-commissioned title in the Royal Marines and infantry regiments of the British Army, ranking above sergeant and below warrant officer class 2. It has a NATO ranking code of OR-7 and is equivalent to the rank of staff sergeant in other branches of the Army, flight sergeant or chief technician in the Royal Air Force, and chief petty officer in the Royal Navy. The insignia is the monarch's crown above three downward pointing chevrons.

The rank was introduced into British Army infantry regiments in 1813 during the Napoleonic Wars to reward long-serving sergeants. By 1913, there were two colour sergeants in each infantry company. On 1 October 1913, they were replaced by the two new ranks of company sergeant major and company quartermaster sergeant, with one of each in each company. However, the CQMS of an infantry company continued to be generally addressed as "Colour Sergeant". The Royal Marines retained the rank throughout.

Historically, colour sergeants of British line regiments protected ensigns, the most junior officers who were responsible for carrying their battalions' colours to rally troops in battles. For this reason, to reach the rank of colour sergeant was considered a prestigious attainment, granted normally to those sergeants who had displayed courage on the field of battle. This tradition continues today as colour sergeants form part of a colour party in military parades.

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