I have  displayed this series of rank insignia as "miscellaneous" in the hope that it will avoid confusion of placing them within set years.

The rank  insignia that was worn by Corporals are most interesting because they cover a very short period in the early 1960's.  As to why there is a "Corporal, narrow 1 Stripe"  I am not sure and records do not clarify it.  These first two ranks by virtue of the one stripe should fall in to the 1949-1963 period set of ranks, but the stripe is narrow and not wide as with the period.  The two stripe Corporal is easy to place because it was introduced with the ranks in 1963, retaining the stars as a follow on from the previous system. It was quickly replaced by the actual rank of Corporal.

The selection below illustrates:- Potential NCO rank worn by 3 Star Privates who were undergoing the Potential NCO Course in the Western Command Training Depot (not used in other commands).  The Staff Quartermaster Sergeant is an appointment rather than a rank.  To distinguish between the BQMS or SQMS the red background was introduced.

 Page Updated : Saturday, 29 September 2007