[Toby Purcell]

It was in January 1879 that an Army Circular announced the introduction of "a class of Warrant Officer to assist in the discharge of the subordinate duties of the Commissariat & Transport and Ordnance Stores Departments of the Army".

The new rank of Warrant Officer was so successful, that in March 1879 (a bare two months after the introduction of Conductors), the Adjutant-General was suggesting its extension to include Sergeant-Majors and selected Staff Sergeants 1st Class, and these were included in July 1881, thus adding Regimental Sergeant Major and Staff Sergeant 1st Class, Ordnance Stores Corps (OSC) to the Warrant Officer role.

After 1881 Warrant Officers were graded into 2 distinct groups. 'Group 1' being Conductors, and Master Gunners Class 1 (followed later by others) and 'Group 2' being Warrant Officers of lesser standing.

The Large Crown (First Use 1882 - 1915) In 1882, an order introducing the badges to be worn by the second batch of Warrant Officers, stated that they would not wear chevrons. The final choice of the Crown as the badge of Warrant Officers within 'Group 2' was more than likely adopted because the majority of Staff Serjeants Class 1 already wore a crown above a four-bar chevron. All that occurred was that the wearing of the chevrons was discontinued.

All Staff Sergeants 1st Class were re-named Staff Sergeant Majors in 1889. The title Staff Sergeant now being used for Non-Commissioned Officers only (A term now used for the rank immediately below that of Warrant Officer)

The Crown within a Wreath (First Use 1901 - 1918) When the original Warrant Officers (Conductors) were first created, there was no need for them to have any distinguishing badge, as they were unique. Even after the introduction of Warrant Officer 'Group 2' the need for a distictive badge was not that great. The addition of a Wreath round the Crown already introduced for the junior 'Group 2' Warrant Officers seemed to be a very suitable increment by which to distinguish the senior 'Group 1' Warrant Officers. (By which time Conductors OSC & Staff Sergeant Majors Class 1 ASC had been joined by Master Gunners Class 1 Royal Artillery)

In 1915 the original 'Group 1 & 2' Warrant Officers were re-named Warrant Officers Class 1 (But still listed in KRs in two distinct groups). By the end of World War One all the remaining Staff-Serjeants Class One had been promoted to Warrant Officer rank.

The Royal Arms (1915 onwards) When in 1915 the Warrant Officer Class 1 was extended and Class II created, There was a requirement to introduce a suitable rank badge, And the decision was made to extend the use of the Royal Arms already in use with Serjeant Majors in Foot Guards. The wearing of a smaller version of the badge below the elbow was in keeping with what was the practice when the Crown was the only badge of Warrant rank.

The Large Crown (Second Use 1915 - 1939) When the new class of Warrant Officer Class Two was introduced in 1915, and the introduction of the Royal Arms for Warrant Officer Class One 'Group 2' The use of the Crown was adopted by all Warrant Officers Class II.

The Royal Arms in Wreath (1918 onwards) At the end of World War One it was decided to adapt the Royal Arms in the same way the Crown was in 1915 by adding a Wreath, as it was felt by some that the Crown in Wreath lacked a little in 'style' over the Royal Arms now in use by the 'Group 2' Warrant Officer Class One.

So at the close of World War One, Three badges were in use by Warrant Officers. The Royal Arms within a Wreath by 'Group 1' Warrant Officer Class 1. The Royal Arms by 'Group 2' Warrant Officer Class 1 and the Large Crown by Warrant Officers Class II. The Crown in Wreath no longer being in use.