Definition of the word lance sergeant

The word "lance sergeant" originated during the twentieth century in the British Army, specifically in the early years of World War I. Before the war, the rank of sergeant in the British Army was divided into two sub-ranks: colour sergeant (CSM) and second sergeant (SSM). In the chaos and confusion of the front line, it was often difficult for soldiers to distinguish between senior and junior non-commissioned officers, as they all wore similar uniforms. To address this issue, a new rank, lance sergeant (LSG), was created by the War Office in September 1915. This rank was specifically designed for soldiers who had displayed leadership qualities but had not yet been promoted to the full rank of sergeant. Lancesergeants would often be temporarily promoted to their new rank for a specific mission or campaign, before returning to their previous rank upon its completion. The role of a lance sergeant was similar to that of a fully-fledged sergeant, but with slightly fewer responsibilities. They acted as intermediaries between junior NCOs, such as corporals, and their CSM, as well as supporting officers in the execution of orders. The name "lance" is believed to come from the French word "lançon", meaning "light lance", which was a shorter, narrower version of the traditional cavalry lance. The name was symbolic, as lancesergeants were seen as "lightly-armed" soldiers, acknowledged to have leadership potential but not yet fully-fledged members of the non-commissioned officer class. The role of a lance sergeant remains part of the British Army today, although its usage has changed over time. Nowadays, lancesergeants are more commonly awarded longer-term appointments, in recognition of their capabilities, and wear the same rank insignia as a fully-fledged sergeant. They perform the same duties as CSMs and SSMs, and are expected to show the same level of leadership, responsibility, and dedication to duty as their senior NCOs.