Lance Corporal

Lance Corporal (LCpl or L/Cpl) is a military rank used by some elements of the British, Commonwealth, and U.S. armed forces. It ranks above privates and below corporal, although its specific status beyond that differs between the forces that use it. It is equivalent to the NATO Rank Grade OR-3.

Related Topics:
Military rank - Armed force - Private - Corporal

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The origin of the rank of Lance Corporal derives from an amalgamation of corporal with the now-archaic lancepesade, formerly an NCO of the lowest rank. This in turn derives from the Italian lanzia spezzata, which literally means "broken lance" or "broken spear", but which was used to denote a seasoned soldier (the broken spear being a metaphor for combat experience, where such an occurrence was likely).

Related Topics:
Lancepesade - NCO

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Another possible origin of Lance Corporal, although far less established and somewhat lost in history, is that the term may have originated in the Middle Ages as a title for corporals who had lost their horses on a battlefield and would join an infantry company for the duration of the conflict. Such persons were known as "Corporals of Lance" instead of "Corporals of Horse". This older origin of the rank is more supported by British and American sources whereas the lancepesade origin is held by most European sources.

Related Topics:
Middle Ages - Corporals of Lance - Corporals of Horse

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