41-877: Air Commodore Herbert Martin Massey , CBE , DSO , MC (19 January 1898 – 29 February 1976) was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force . He was the Senior British Officer at Stalag Luft III who authorised the "Great Escape" . Massey entered the Royal Military College, Sandhurst in 1915, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment in April 1916. He soon after underwent flying training, and
82-579: A brigade of several thousand soldiers. In other countries, it is a non-commissioned rank. The word and rank of "Brigadier" originates from France . In the French Army , the Brigadier des Armées du Roi (Brigadier of the King's Armies) was a general officer rank, created in 1657. It was an intermediate between the rank of Mestre de camp and that of Maréchal de camp . The rank was first created in
123-439: A brigadier was established by Philip V in 1702 as an intermediate rank between colonel and true generals . In some Iberoamerican republics (see below), the rank survived after independence. In Spain , brigadiers came to be considered full generals in 1871, and in 1889 they were renamed general de brigada . The historical rank is distinct from the current NCO rank of brigada , although sometimes translators confuse
164-424: A brigade. The army brigadier wears the colonel's uniform and insignia. The rank was definitively abolished in 1945. Until 1788, a rank of brigadier des armées ("brigadier of the armies"), which could be described as a senior colonel or junior brigade commander, was used in the French Army . The normal brigade command rank was field marshal ( maréchal de camp ) (which elsewhere is a more senior rank). During
205-466: A general officer rank, it is always considered equivalent to the brigadier general and brigade general rank of other countries. In NATO forces, brigadier is OF-6 on the rank scale. "The grade of brigadier-general, also called, almost interchangeably, brigadier, first appeared in the British army during the reign of King James II. A warrant of 1705 placed the grade directly below major-general, but
246-434: A single white star (air commodore is equivalent to a one-star rank) on an air force blue background. RAF air commodores are classed as air officers and as such have two rows of gold oak leaves on the peak of their service dress hats. The reigning monarch may appoint honorary air commodores for RAF flying squadrons and stations. For example, King Charles III is RAF Valley 's honorary air commodore and Winston Churchill
287-504: Is a air officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force . The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. Air commodore is immediately senior to group captain and immediately subordinate to air vice-marshal . It
328-497: Is otherwise similar to that of a colonel (colonel's rank insignia have a crown/emblem with two stars/"pips".) The Canadian Army used the rank of brigadier (following British tradition, with identical insignia) until the unification of the Canadian Forces in 1968. The rank then became brigadier-general with the insignia of St. Edward's Crown surmounting a crossed sword and baton over one gold maple leaf. The rank of
369-467: Is the rank below brigade general , both ranks falling between colonel and divisional general. However, both the Argentine and Brazilian Air Forces use a curious system of variations on brigadier for all ( Argentina ) or most ( Brazil ) general officers. The origin of this system is not entirely clear, but in the case of Argentina may be due to army air units being commanded by brigade generals before
410-706: Is usually equivalent to a commodore or a brigadier / brigadier general . The equivalent rank in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force , Women's Royal Air Force (until 1968) and Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service (until 1980) was "air commandant". The rank was used in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) until the 1968 unification of the Canadian Forces , when army-type rank titles were adopted. Canadian air commodores then became brigadier-generals . In official Canadian French usage,
451-529: The brigadier rank is the reason that there is no one-star insignia in the French Army. The rank of brigadier is still nonetheless used in some regiments as an equivalent of corporal . By extension, this also applies to the gendarmerie , equivalent in rank to a corporal in the infantry. In many countries, especially those formerly part of the British Empire , a brigadier is either
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#1732782614532492-663: The Air Training Corps , an appointed air commodore holds ultimate authority over the cadet organisation as the Commandant Air Cadets . On 1 April 1918, the newly created RAF adopted its officer rank titles from the British Army , with officers at what is now air commodore holding the rank of brigadier-general . In response to the proposal that the RAF should use its own rank titles, it was suggested that
533-525: The French Revolution , the ranks of brigadier des armées and maréchal de camp were replaced by brigade general ( général de brigade ). In common with many countries, France now uses the officer rank of brigade general (Général de brigade) instead of a "brigadier" rank. The brigadier des armées held a one-star insignia, while the général de brigade inherited the maréchal de camp two-stars insignia. The disappearance of
574-545: The Indonesian Police , Army and Marine Corps respectively. In the Italian Carabinieri and Guardia di Finanza , the ranks of vice-brigadier ( vice brigadiere ), brigadier ( brigadiere ), and chief brigadier ( brigadiere capo ) correspond roughly to the army ranks based on sergeant . The rank of brigade general ( generale di brigata ) is used throughout the armed forces as
615-682: The French gendarmerie and in "mounted" arms of the French army, the brigadier ranks are: In the French National Police , the sub-officer variations are used for non-commissioned officers are: In the Indonesian National Police force, this rank is referred to as the Constable ranks in the regular police units. It is equivalent to the "sergeant" rank in the armed forces. This rank is the most junior rank in
656-525: The RAF might use the Royal Navy's officer ranks , with the word "air" inserted before the naval rank title. Although the Admiralty objected to this simple modification of their rank titles, it was agreed that the RAF might base many of its officer rank titles on Navy officer ranks with differing pre-modifying terms. It was also suggested that air-officer ranks could be based on the term "ardian", which
697-503: The United Kingdom. Air commodore-in-chief is not a rank and such an appointment does not convey the rank of air commodore upon the recipient. Brigadier Brigadier ( / ˌ b r ɪ ɡ ə ˈ d ɪər / BRIG -ə- DEER ) is a military rank , the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel , equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore , typically commanding
738-428: The appointment was always considered temporary and not continuous. The British were ambiguous over whether the holder was considered a general officer or a senior field grade office". The title is derived from the equivalent British rank of brigadier-general, used until 1922 and still used in many countries. "Brigadier" was already in use as a generic term for a commander of a brigade irrespective of specific rank. Until
779-517: The brigadier ranks are used as in the army, i.e. as junior enlisted ranks ( gradés ), while the French police use brigadier ranks as their sub-officer ( sous-officier ) ranks. Since all professional police and gendarmes have sub-officer status in France, the gendarmerie brigadier ranks are rarely used, since they are used only by auxiliaries. On the other hand, the police brigadier ranks, which are used to indicate professional ranks, are common. In
820-409: The cavalry at the instigation of Marshal Turenne on June 8, 1657, then in the infantry on March 17, 1668, and in the dragoons on April 15, 1672. In peacetime, the brigadier commanded his regiment and, in maneuvers or in wartime, he commanded two or three - or even four - regiments combined to form a brigade (including his own, but later the rank was also awarded to lieutenant-colonels, which allowed for
861-603: The establishment of the Air Force as an independent armed force. In the UK, brigadier and sub-brigadier were formerly subaltern ranks in the Royal Horse Guards . Brigadier also exists as a non-commissioned rank. This usage derives from the use of "brigade" to denote a squad or team, similar to the occasional English civilian usage "work brigade". In France , and some countries whose forces were structured based on
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#1732782614532902-467: The film The Great Escape (1963), played by actor James Donald . Massey has been portrayed by Peter Dennis in the made-for-TV film The Great Escape II: The Untold Story (1988). In 2016, a Blue plaque was unveiled at the Hilton House Hotel where Massey was born, the first Blue Plaque in the village of Hilton . Air Commodore Air commodore ( Air Cdre or Air Cmde )
943-841: The highest field rank or most junior general appointment, nominally commanding a brigade . It ranks above colonel and below major general . The rank is used by the British Army , the Royal Marines , the Australian Army , the Bangladesh Army , the Indian Army , the Sri Lankan Army , the New Zealand Army , the Pakistan Army and several others. Although it is not always considered
984-413: The honorary rank. In such cases the individual is made an honorary air commandant and they retain their regular rank. Larger air force organisations or formations may be honoured by having an air commodore-in-chief appointed in their name. These RAF appointments are rare and to date (2020) have been given to just five senior members of the royal family, of whom three were reigning or future monarchs of
1025-690: The interwar period. He commanded No. 6 Squadron in operations during the Arab Revolt in Palestine , for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order , and was a station commander during the early years of the Second World War . He was officer commanding of No. 10 Operational Training Unit with temporary rank of group captain made permanent in 1942. He was on a Short Stirling of No. 7 Squadron RAF during
1066-406: The method used in France, some branches of the army and the gendarmerie use brigadier for a rank equivalent to caporal ( corporal ), and brigadier-chef for a rank equivalent to caporal-chef . Brigadier is used by arms of the army that are by tradition considered "mounted" arms, such as logistics or cavalry units. A similar usage exists elsewhere. In the French gendarmerie,
1107-526: The most junior general rank, and corresponds to the British rank title of brigadier. Brigadier is traditionally the most senior non-commissioned rank in the Dutch police, for example the National Police Corps ( Korps Nationale Politie ). Its predecessors also used this rank. The Royal Marechaussee (military police/gendarmerie) does not use this rank. In Spain , a brigada has
1148-428: The promotion of an officer who did not have his own regiment). Before the rank of brigadier of the armies was dissolved in 1788, it was materialized by the wearing of a single star. And when it was abolished that year, the number of stars of its immediate superiors was not modified, which explains why today French generals have one more star on their insignia than their foreign counterparts (notably American). Note that
1189-611: The rank of "Chef de brigade" created during the French Revolution replaced that of Colonel. A brigade commander then commanded... a half-brigade (a name that replaced the regiment). The rank of Brigadier of the Armies reappeared during the Third Republic. It designates a colonel, experienced as a regimental commander, who has under his command several regiments without having the annexed units that would make this group
1230-537: The rank title was commodore de l'air . The position of honorary air commodore still exists in the Royal Canadian Air Cadets . In the present-day RAF, air commodores typically hold senior appointments within groups , acting directly in support of the air officer commanding . However, during the inter-war period, and in the case of the contemporary No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group , the air officer commanding held or holds air commodore rank. In
1271-487: The rank was dissolved in 1922, brigadier-generals wore a crossed sword and baton symbol on its own. From 1922 to 1928, the British rank title used was that of colonel-commandant, with one crown and three 'pips', a rank which, although reflecting its modern role in the British Army as a senior colonel rather than a junior general, was not well received and was replaced with brigadier after six years. Colonel-commandant
Herbert Massey - Misplaced Pages Continue
1312-511: The regular police units of Indonesia but is above the enlisted ranks ( Tamtama ) of the special police units such as in the Mobile Brigade corps and water police units. This rank is below the "Sub-inspector" ( Ajun Inspektur Polisi ) ranks. The police Brigadier ranks are as shown below: In addition, Police Brigadier General ( Brigadir Jenderal Polisi ) and Brigadier General ( Brigadir Jenderal ) are general officer ranks in
1353-547: The second Thousand-bomber raid when it was shot down near the Dutch coast during a raid in night of 1/2 June 1942, and was captured by the Germans. Massey then became the Senior British Officer at Stalag Luft III , and authorised the "Great Escape" in March 1943. Massey had suffered severe wounds to the same leg in both wars and walked with a limp. There would be no escape for him but as Senior British Officer, he had to know what
1394-487: The tunic or on the shoulders of the flying suit or the casual uniform. On the mess uniform , air commodores wear a broad gold ring on both lower sleeves. The command flag of an air commodore has one narrow red band running through the centre and is rectangular with a cut-away section giving it two tails. It is the only RAF command flag of this shape and it is similar in shape to that of a Royal Navy commodore's broad pennant . The vehicle star plate for an air commodore depicts
1435-661: The two. The name has survived as a cadet rank at the Spanish Naval Academy . Many countries in South and Central America were formerly Spanish or Portuguese (Brazil) possessions. Brigadier [-general] is used in Latin America , in the normal sense of brigade commander rank (e.g. Colombia , Chile ), although most Latin American nations instead use the rank of brigade general. In Mexico , brigadier general
1476-402: Was 615 Squadron 's honorary air commodore. As the title suggests, this is an honorary position bestowed by the reigning monarch and it does not grant the recipient command of a unit or formation. It is designed to strengthen the bond between the military unit and the individual and promote the role of the air force amongst the public. Serving officers may be granted an equivalent appointment to
1517-401: Was an appointment conferred on naval captains) rather than a substantive rank. In Commonwealth countries, and most Arabic -speaking countries (in which the rank is called amid ), the rank insignia comprises a crown (or some other national symbol) with three stars, (sometimes called "pips"), which are often arranged in a triangle. A brigadier's uniform may also have red gorget patches . It
1558-568: Was derived from a combination of the Gaelic words for "chief" ( ard ) and "bird" ( eun ), with the term "fourth ardian" or "flight ardian" being used for the equivalent to brigadier-general and commodore. However, the rank title based on the Navy rank was preferred and air commodore was adopted in August 1919. The rank insignia is a light-blue band on a broad black band worn on both the lower sleeves of
1599-586: Was going on. Massey had been a veteran escaper himself and had been in trouble with the Gestapo . His experience allowed him to offer sound advice to the X-Organisation. Due to ill-health he was repatriated to the UK in 1944. After Massey's death in 1976, a memorial service in his honour was held on 22 May 1976 at St Clement Danes Church. Massey was the basis for the character "Group Captain Ramsey" in
1640-430: Was only ever used for officers commanding brigades, depots or training establishments. Officers holding equivalent rank in administrative appointments were known as "colonels on the staff", also replaced by brigadier in 1928. Colonel-commandants and colonels on the staff wore the same rank badge later adopted by brigadiers. Until shortly after World War II , brigadier was an appointment conferred on colonels (as commodore
1681-527: Was posted as a pilot to No. 16 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps from July. He was promoted temporary captain and made a flight commander in December 1916. On 4 February 1917, Massey was wounded and his observer killed when their aircraft was shot down by German ace Werner Voss . Transferring to the newly created Royal Air Force in 1918, Massey continued his military career through