Every soldier had a rank, and every rank had a job. Here is what each one meant in the First World War, and what the men who held it were expected to do.
Find your soldier’s rank below to see where he stood in the army and what he did.
The men who did the fighting, the digging and the carrying. The title changed with the unit, but the rank is the same.
The backbone of the army: the fighting soldier. Most of the men of the NZEF served as privates.
Where he fitted in: Served in a section of about 8 to 12 men.
The private soldier's title in a mounted regiment such as the Mounted Rifles. It is the same rank as a private in the infantry.
Where he fitted in: Served in a troop of about 30 to 50 men.
The private soldier's title in a rifle regiment. The New Zealand Rifle Brigade used it.
Where he fitted in: Served in a section of about 8 to 12 men.
The private soldier's title in the artillery.
Where he fitted in: Served in a gun detachment under a corporal or bombardier.
The private soldier's title in the engineers. Sappers were the army's builders and tunnellers.
Where he fitted in: Served in a section or company of Field Engineers.
A soldier who drove the horse and wagon teams that moved guns, ammunition and supplies.
Where he fitted in: Served in a battery, supply column or transport section.
The private soldier's title in the signals. Signallers kept the army in touch.
Where he fitted in: Served in a battalion or brigade signal section.
Non-commissioned officers (NCOs) rose from the ranks. They led the smallest groups of men.
The first step on the ladder: a private given a little authority. In many units the rank was unpaid or acting.
Where he fitted in: Responsible for a handful of men, about 4 or 5.
A junior non-commissioned officer (NCO) who led a section. The link between the officers and the ordinary soldier.
Where he fitted in: A section of about 8 to 12 men.
The artillery's equivalent of a corporal.
Where he fitted in: A gun detachment of a few men.
The experienced sergeants who ran platoons and kept a unit supplied.
A senior NCO. The experienced hand of the platoon and the officer's right-hand man.
Where he fitted in: Second in command of a platoon of about 30 to 50 men.
A senior NCO in a headquarters or specialist role rather than in a fighting platoon.
Where he fitted in: A section, store or department within a unit.
The company's supplier: the NCO responsible for feeding, clothing and arming his company.
Where he fitted in: The supplies of a company of about 100 to 250 men.
The most senior NCOs: the backbone of discipline in a company and a battalion.
A warrant officer: the senior NCO of a company and the company commander's chief adviser on the men.
Where he fitted in: A company of about 100 to 250 men.
The senior warrant officer and the most senior soldier in a battalion or regiment. The commanding officer's adviser on all the men.
Where he fitted in: The whole battalion or regiment, about 1,000 men.
Commissioned officers led from platoon to battalion.
The most junior commissioned officer. Commissioned by the King rather than promoted from the ranks, though many had served as soldiers first.
Where he fitted in: A platoon of about 30 to 50 men.
A junior officer, normally a platoon commander or a specialist officer in a unit.
Where he fitted in: A platoon or specialist section.
Normally commanded a company, or served as a key staff officer such as the adjutant. Doctors of the Medical Corps were also commissioned as captains.
Where he fitted in: A company of about 100 to 250 men.
A senior officer. Second in command of a battalion, or commander of a squadron or battery.
Where he fitted in: A squadron or battery, or second in command of a battalion.
The commanding officer of a battalion or regiment.
Where he fitted in: A battalion or regiment of about 1,000 men.
A senior officer, usually on the staff or in charge of a larger service or group of units.
Where he fitted in: A brigade, a service or a staff branch.
The commanders of brigades and divisions.
Commanded a brigade of about four battalions. The New Zealand Division had four brigades of infantry and mounted rifles.
Where he fitted in: A brigade of about 4,000 men.
Commanded a division. The senior New Zealand field commander in each theatre.
Where he fitted in: A division of around 20,000 men.
Every medal and award a New Zealand soldier of the First World War could earn or be sent, with its ribbon and medal drawn as they were worn. The drawings are simplified illustrations.
Given to almost every man who served, for being there. They went to the soldier as a set, the trio or the pair, with his number and name stamped on each.
Awarded to: Service in France or Belgium between 5 August and 22 November 1914.
Almost no New Zealand soldier earned it. The first New Zealand troops reached the Western Front in 1916. It went mainly to British and Indian troops.
Awarded to: Service in a theatre of war between 5 August 1914 and 31 December 1915.
For the Main Body and the men of Gallipoli and Egypt, who sailed before the end of 1915. The Star is stamped with the man's number, rank, name and unit. No man received both Stars.
Awarded to: Service in a theatre of war, or leaving home shores for one, between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918.
A silver medal, named on the rim. Almost every man who went overseas received it, with the Victory Medal.
Awarded to: Service in a theatre of war. It was given to those who had entered a theatre of operations.
A bronze medal with a winged figure of Victory, on the double-rainbow ribbon. Together with the British War Medal it is often called the pair, and with a Star, the trio.
Awarded to: Sent to the next of kin of every man or woman who died on service.
A bronze plaque about 12 cm across with the words “He died for freedom and honour”, sent with a scroll and a message from the King. Its nickname came from its round shape and bronze colour.
Awarded to: Men honourably discharged because of wounds, sickness or age, from September 1916.
A sterling-silver lapel badge worn on civilian clothes, each one numbered. It showed that the wearer had served and was not shirking.
Awards for courage and for outstanding work. Each was for a particular rank, and a man could earn a second award, shown as a bar on the ribbon.
Awarded to: Most conspicuous bravery in the face of the enemy. Open to every rank.
The highest award for valour. Eleven men of the NZEF won it in the First World War. Their honour roll is on this site. See the honour roll.
Awarded to: Officers, for distinguished service or leadership under fire.
A white-enamelled cross with a gold crown on a red centre. After January 1917 it was recommended only for men serving under fire.
Awarded to: Officers of captain's rank and below, and warrant officers, for gallantry in action. It was instituted in December 1914.
A plain silver cross with the royal cypher on the arms. The white-purple-white ribbon is one of the best known of the war.
Awarded to: Non-commissioned officers and men, for gallantry in the field.
The second-highest award for other ranks. In 1916 the Military Medal was created below it to stop the DCM being given too freely.
Awarded to: Non-commissioned officers and men, for bravery in the field. Established 25 March 1916.
A silver medal marked “For bravery in the field”. A second award was shown by a bar on the ribbon.
Awarded to: Non-commissioned officers and men, for valuable service, or for gallantry away from the firing line.
A silver medal marked “For Meritorious Service”. It rewarded the work behind the lines that kept an army going.
Awarded to: Named in a commander's report for gallant or meritorious service.
There was no medal. A man received a certificate, and a bronze oak-leaf spray was worn on the ribbon of his Victory Medal.
Duties varied with the unit, the theatre and the time. This is a typical picture of the NZEF, 1914 to 1918. Numbers of men are approximate.