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Colour sergeant ( CSgt or C/Sgt) is a rank of non-commissioned officer found in several armies and marine corps.
Canadian colour sergeants are addressed in the same manner as their British counterparts.
The rank was introduced into British Army infantry regiments in 1813 during the Napoleonic Wars to reward long-serving sergeants; a single colour sergeant was appointed to each company as the senior NCO. From 1 October 1913, British infantry battalions were reorganised from eight companies to four, leaving two colour sergeants in each new company. The senior of the pair was appointed to the new appointment of company sergeant major and the junior to that of company quartermaster sergeant."Four-Company Battalions", The Times, 17 September 1913"New Rates of Pay in the Army", The Times, 14 October 1913 In 1915, CSMs were given the new rank of warrant officer class II, but the CQMS of an infantry company continued to hold the rank of colour sergeant. The Royal Marines also retained the rank throughout.
Historically, colour sergeants of British line regiments protected ensigns, the most junior officers who were responsible for carrying their ' 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. During ceremonial events, it is from a colour sergeant that the ensign collects the colour of the battalion or regiment.
Colour sergeants are referred to and addressed as "Colour Sergeant" or "Colour" ("Colour Sergeant Hewitt" or "Colour Hewitt", for instance) in the Army, or as "Colour Sergeant" or "Colours" in the Royal Marines, and never by the more junior rank of "Sergeant". Unusually, NCOs with the rank of colour sergeant who hold the appointment of company quartermaster sergeant are still addressed and referred to by their rank, not their appointment. In Foot Guards regiments, colour sergeants are addressed as "Sir" and afforded the respect and privileges normally accorded to warrant officers. In The Rifles, the spelling "colour serjeant" is used, in common with other Rifles ranks and appointments including the word serjeant. "Colour Serjeant Kevin Charles Fortuna killed in Afghanistan", Ministry of Defence, 25 May 2011
In the Royal Marines Band Service, the of the seven Royal Navy Volunteer Bands usually hold the rank of band colour sergeant. "HMS Collingwood Volunteer Band support RAF100 event", Royal Navy, 20 April 2018 "Plymouth Royal Navy volunteer band success", Somerset County Gazette, 22 July 2014 The senior playing musician in a Royal Marines band also holds this rank, which replaced the rank of bandmaster in 1969. "Royal Marines - Band Services - Introduction of the Rank of Band Colour Sergeant", 28 February 1969
Colour sergeants and form an important part of the instructor cadre at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
The term is used in the US Marine Corps as a billet for sergeants who carry the colours. Additionally, there is a billet of Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps, a sergeant (E5) who is the Commandant of the Marine Corps' ceremonial representative and the platoon sergeant of the Marine Corps Battle Colors Detachment.
United States
Color sergeant is an NCO rank that was used historically in the United States Army, most recently during World War I. Within the United States Military Academy at West Point, the term is used to distinguish second class cadets who are assigned to a colour party (one bearer per colour plus two guards).. In the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, the rank is given to 3rd year cadets that are members of the Regimental Color Guard, with the exception of the guard's NCO-in-command, who holds the rank of cadet command color sergeant. All color sergeants in the VTCC must go through the guard's joining process (Tap) again, even if they served as cadet color corporals on the guard as sophomores.
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