Conductor (British Army)
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Conductor (Cdr) is an appointment held by Warrant Officers Class 1 in the Royal Logistic Corps and is the most senior appointment that can be held by a non-commissioned officer in the British Army.
The first known mention of Conductors is in the 1327 Statute of Westminster, when they are mentioned as the men whose job it was to conduct soldiers to places of assembly. The Conductor of Ordnance is mentioned in the records of the siege of Boulogne in 1544 and Conductors are mentioned several times in surviving records from the 17th century. In 1776 they are described in Thomas Simes's book The Military Guide for Young Officers as assistants to the Commissary of Stores. The Land Transport Corps and the Military Stores Department of the 19th century both included Conductors in their strength.
On 11 January 1879, a Royal Warrant established Conductors of Supplies (in the Army Service Corps) and Conductors of Stores (in the Ordnance Store Branch) as Warrant Officers, ranking above all non-commissioned officers. In 1892, Conductors of Supplies were renamed Staff Sergeant Majors 1st Class, but Conductors of Stores remained in what in 1896 became the Army Ordnance Corps. Staff Sergeant Majors in the new corps were renamed Sub Conductors. In February 1915, with the general introduction of warrant officers throughout the army, Conductors and Sub Conductors became Warrant Officers Class I. Sub Conductors reverted to Staff Sergeant Majors in 1967, but the appointment of Conductor passed to the new Royal Logistic Corps in 1993. It may now be held by WO1s in any RLC trade, including transport, catering, pioneer and postal warrant officers, as well as the original suppliers.
As of 2003, there were seventeen Conductors in the Royal Logistic Corps, including one in the Territorial Army. It is a great honour to be appointed and prospective Conductors must have held the rank of WO1 for at least three years. They may not be currently serving as Regimental Sergeant Majors (i.e. they must be Staff Sergeant Majors). No more than 10% of the WO1s of the RLC at any one time (excluding RSMs) may hold the appointment of Conductor. Since 2001, Conductors have received their Warrant of appointment on a parchment scroll, reviving an ancient tradition.
From 11 July 1900, Conductors were authorised to wear a crown within a laurel wreath on their lower sleeve and Sub Conductors a crown, although they did not start actually wearing these until 1901 and 1904 respectively. In 1915, Conductors were authorised a crown in a laurel wreath and Sub Conductors the royal coat of arms. In 1918, Conductors began wearing the royal arms in a laurel wreath, still their badge of rank, and Sub Conductors (now obsolete) the royal arms alone. Like RSMs and unlike most other NCOs, Conductors wear Sam Brownes.
Two Conductors of the Bengal Ordnance Department won the Victoria Cross during the Indian Mutiny. John Buckley won it at Delhi on 11 May 1857 and James Miller at Futtepore on 28 October 1857.
External link
Conductors RAOC & RLC (http://www.rlc-conductor.info/Index.html)