Bombardier is a military rank used in Commonwealth countries for non-commissioned officers (NCO)

United Kingdom

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Bombardier (Bdr) and Lance-Bombardier (LBdr or L/Bdr) are British Army ranks used in the Royal Artillery and Royal Horse Artillery instead of Corporal and Lance-Corporal respectively.

Originally, the Royal Artillery had Corporals (but not Lance-Corporals) and a Bombardier was junior to them and wore a single chevron. Unlike a Lance-Corporal, a Bombardier was a full non-commissioned officer and not an acting appointment. It was equivalent to the rank of Second Corporal in the Royal Engineers and Army Ordnance Corps.

In 1920, Corporals were abolished in the Royal Artillery and Bombardiers became the equivalent and acquired the normal two chevrons.

The rank of Lance Bombardier originated as Acting Bombardier, an appointment similar to Lance-Corporal which was also indicated by a single chevron. The appointment was renamed Lance-Bombardier in February 1918 and became a full rank, as did Lance-Corporal, in 1961.

The term 'Bomb' is widely used throughout the Royal Artillery and Royal Horse Artillery for both full and Lance-Bombardiers, the difference being defined as 'Full Screw' and 'Lance Jack' where required. As with other military abbreviations, such as 'Sarge', this is not used on official occasions.

Canada

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In the Canadian Forces, the Artillery Branch uses the ranks Master Bombardier and Bombardier instead of Master Corporal and Corporal.

See also

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• British Army enlisted rank insignia
• Comparative military ranks
• Canadian Forces ranks and insignia

Military ranks of the Commonwealth | Military ranks of Australia | Military ranks of Canada | Military ranks of the United Kingdom

Bombardier (stopień)