Only commissions in
cavalry and
infantry regiments could be purchased, up to the rank of
colonel. Commissions in the
Royal Engineers and the
Royal Artillery were awarded to those who graduated from a course at the
Royal Military Academy,
Woolwich and subsequent promotion was by seniority. Moreover, the
Royal Navy never practised the sale of commissions, officer promotion being solely by merit or seniority (at least in theory).
Values The official values of commissions varied by branch (see below). Payments in excess of regulation (non-official) usually accorded with the differing social prestige of different regiments. For example, in 1837 the costs of commissions were: These prices were incremental. To purchase a promotion, an officer only had to pay the difference in price between his existing rank and the desired rank. In practice, there was also an unofficial "over-regulation price" or "regimental value", which might double the official cost. Desirable commissions in fashionable regiments were often sold to the highest bidder after an auction. A self-interested senior officer might well regard his commission as his pension fund and would encourage the increase of its value. An officer who incurred or inherited debts might sell his commission to raise funds. Social exclusiveness was preserved not only by money, as regimental colonels were permitted to – and often did – refuse the purchase of a commission in their regiment by a man who had the necessary money but was not from a social background to their liking. This was especially the case in the Household and Guards regiments, which were dominated by the
nobility. Elsewhere, however, it was not unknown for Colonels to lend deserving senior non-commissioned officers or warrant officers the funds necessary to purchase commissions. Not all first commissions or promotions were paid for. If an officer was
killed in action or appointed to the
Staff (usually through being promoted to
Major General), this created a series of "non-purchase vacancies" within his regiment. These could also occur when new regiments or battalions were created, or when the establishments of existing units were expanded. However, all vacancies resulting from officers dying of disease, retiring (whether on full or half pay) or resigning their commissions were "purchase vacancies". The worst potential effects of the system were mitigated during intensive conflicts such as the
Napoleonic Wars by heavy casualties among senior ranks, which resulted in many non-purchase vacancies, and also discouraged wealthy
dilettantes who were not keen on active service, thereby ensuring that many commissions were exchanged for their nominal value only. There was also the possibility of promotion to
brevet army ranks for deserving officers. An officer might be a
subaltern or Captain in his regiment, but might hold a higher local rank if attached to other units or allied armies, or might be given a higher Army rank by the Commander-in-Chief or the Monarch in recognition of meritorious service or a notable feat of bravery. Officers bearing dispatches giving news of a victory (such as
Waterloo), often received such
promotion, and might be specially selected by a General in the field for this purpose.
Abolition of the practice The malpractices associated with the purchase of commissions reached their height in the long peace between the Napoleonic Wars and the
Crimean War, when
James Brudenell, Lord Cardigan paid £35,000 () for the lieutenant-colonelcy of the stylish
11th Hussars. It became obvious in the Crimea that the system of purchase often resulted in incompetence, such as that which resulted in the
Charge of the Light Brigade, led by Cardigan. An inquiry (the Commission on Purchase) was established in 1855, and commented unfavourably on the institution. The practice of purchase of commissions was finally abolished as part of the 1871
Cardwell reforms which made many changes to the structure and procedures of the Army. ==Other armies==