Aide-de-camp

An Aide-de-camp, a French expression meaning helper in the military camp, is a personal assistant or secretary to a person of high rank, usually a senior military, police or government officer, a member of a royal family, or a head of state. This is not to be confused with the rank and role of an Adjutant, who is the senior administrator of a military unit. The first Aide-de-camp is typically the foremost personal aide. In some countries, the Aide-de-camp is considered to be a title of honour (which confers the post-nominal letters ADC or A de C), and participates at ceremonial functions. The badge of office for an Aide-de-camp is usually the aiguillette, a braided cord in gold or other colours, worn on the shoulder of a uniform. Whether it is worn on the left or the right shoulder is dictated by protocol.

In the United Kingdom, junior officers serve as aides-de-camp to certain senior officers. Flag Lieutenant is the Royal Navy's equivalent. An Equerry is the equivalent to an aide-de-camp in the Royal Household, in which they are restricted to senior officers with a primarily honorific role. Aides-de-Camp and Equerries (along with certain other officers) are distinguished by the addition of aiguillettes to dress uniforms, which differ in size, colour and position of wear, depending on the appointment. In addition, ADCs to the monarch wear the monarch's royal monogram on their shoulder straps in various orders of dress. A distinctive and elaborate full-dress uniform used to be worn by army ADCs, but use of full-dress was largely discontinued after the First World War.

References / notes

The above term is listed in our Compendium of the Great War.

This compendium forms the central hub of words, phrases, people, and places relative to the Great War period of 1914–1918. These also include battles, political events, ships, trench slang, British and American service terms and expressions in everyday use, nicknames, sobriquets, the titles of British and Commonwealth Regiments and their origins, and also warfare in general. These words and phrases are contemporary with the war, which is reflected in the language used, some of which may seem derogatory by today's standards. Feel free to expand upon and improve this content.

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