General (rank)

A General, abbreviated to Gen and also known as full general to distinguish it from the lower general officer ranks), is the highest rank currently achievable by serving officers of the British Army. It ranks above Lieutenant General and, in the Army, is subordinate to the rank of Field Marshal, which is now only awarded as an honorary rank. It is equivalent to a full admiral in the Royal Navy or an air chief marshal in the Royal Air Force. Officers holding the ranks of Lieutenant General, Major General may be generically considered to be generals.

A general's insignia is a crossed sword and baton. This appeared on its own for the now obsolete rank of Brigadier General. A Major General has a pip over this emblem; a Lieutenant General a crown instead of a pip; and a full general both a pip and a crown. The insignia for the highest rank, that of Field Marshal, consists of crossed batons within a wreath and surmounted by a crown..