Originally Posted by
langleybaston
Ah! That old Conductor myth.
For a short period, 1879 to 1881, conductors were the ONLY warrant officers in the army.
Before 1879, but not continuously, the following were warrant officers: hospital mates, master gunners of Coast Brigades, cavalry troop quartermasters and schoolmasters.
From 1881 conductors were in the top status group of the most senior warrant officers, which included master gunner first. Queen's Regs of the period, and KR subsequently, make the point that conductors headed the list because it was alphabetical. Precedence within the top group between individuals was to be decided by date of warrant or appointment.
From 1989, when the RA and the RM appointed Corps WOs, the conductors were on the way down a slippery slope, and subsequent inventions of two even higher levels [Army Command and SEAC] have put the conductors below the salt.
This all gives the badge inventors a chance to produce designs that become progressively uglier, like the incumbents.
Try telling the RLC the conductor is below the salt!