Major-General (United Kingdom)


 * Please see "Major General" for other countries which use this rank

Major General (Maj Gen) is a senior rank in the British Army. Since 1996 the highest position within The Royal Marines is the Commandant General Royal Marines who holds the rank of Major General.

A Major General is superior to a Brigadier but subordinate to Lieutenant General. The rank has a NATO rank code of OF-7, equivalent to a Rear-Admiral in the Royal Navy or an Air Vice-Marshal in the Royal Air Force or the air forces of many Commonwealth countries.

The rank insignia is a pip over a crossed sword and baton.

Royal Air Force usage
From the foundation of the Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918 to 31 July 1919, the RAF maintained a rank of major general. The rank insignia was derived from that of a Royal Navy rear-admiral and featured a broad gold stripe on the cuff below one narrow gold stripe. The two stripes were surmounted by an eagle (volant and affronty) under a king's crown. The RAF replaced its rank of major general with the rank of air vice-marshal on the 1 August 1919. The following officers held the rank of major general in the RAF:
 * Edward Ashmore
 * Sefton Brancker
 * Edward Ellington
 * Philip Game
 * Frederick Heath-Caldwell
 * John Higgins
 * Mark Kerr
 * Charles Lambe
 * Charles Longcroft
 * Godfrey Paine
 * Geoffrey Salmond
 * John Salmond
 * Ernest Swinton
 * Frederick Sykes
 * Hugh Trenchard