Introduction

Platoon sergeant major (PSM) was an appointment in the British Army in the short-lived military rank of warrant officer class III (WOIII). It was created on 17 September 1938 by Army Council Instruction 398, and lasted until c.1947.

The platoon sergeant major, and their cavalry counterpart, the troop sergeant major, were part of a project giving experienced non-commissioned officers (NCOs) command of units (platoons and troops) formerly reserved for commissioned officers. With the outbreak of World War II, National Service supplied the Army with enough young men suitable for commissioning, so the rank was placed in suspension in 1940 and no new appointments were made. Most existing WOIIIs were commissioned as lieutenants.

The WOIII wore a crown on their lower sleeve; WOIIs switched to a crown in a wreath during this period.

As I understand it:

• The peacetime establishment of a Battalion was increased by 5 PSMs and simultaneously reduced by 3 subalterns and 2 sergeants.
• No further appointments were made after 1940 as the rank was placed in abeyance but never formally abolished.
• Appointments for the rank included:
  • Platoon Sergeant Major (PSM);
  • Troop Sergeant Major (TSM); and
  • Section Sergeant Major (SSM).
• Army Council Instruction 398 stated the Crown in Laurel Wreath was to be allocated to Warrant Officers Class II on the introduction of Warrant Officer Class III who in turn were allocated the Crown to wear.
  • This was to continue till 1947 (A.C.I. 991 of 1947) when it was decided that Warrant Officers Class II graded as Quartermaster-Sergeants would revert to wearing the Crown in Laurel Wreath and all other Warrant Officers Class II and any remaining Warrant Officers Class III would wear the Crown.

Objectives of the WOIII Scheme

A memorandum issued with Army Council Instruction No. 398 of 1938 gave the following as the objects of the scheme:

(a) to improve the prospects of all ranks, by giving them more opportunity of reaching the higher ranks;
(b) to improve the training of W.O.s Class III, by training them, both in barracks and in the field, as officers; and
(c) to enable the Army to make fuller use of the education and ability of present-day soldiers.

The scheme included in its scope a great increase in the powers of all Warrant Officers, to enable them to replace in nearly all respects the subalterns who were displaced.

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