General (United Kingdom)

General (or full general to distinguish it from the lower general officer ranks) is the highest rank achievable by serving officers of the British Army and the Royal Marines.

It ranks above lieutenant-general and, in the Army, is subordinate to the rank of field marshal, which is now awarded as an honorary rank only. In the Royal Marines, the rank can be held by officers in tri-service posts, for example, Generals Sir Gordon Messenger and Sir Gwyn Jenkins, former Vice-Chiefs of the Defence Staff.

The rank of general is equivalent to a full admiral in the Royal Navy or an air chief marshal in the Royal Air Force. It has a NATO-code of OF-9, and is a four-star rank.

Officers holding the ranks of general, lieutenant-general and major-general are 'general officers' and may be addressed as 'general'.