Half-pay is an allowance given in the British army and navy to commissioned officers who are not actively employed, and corresponds to the French demi-solde.
In the navy, officers are appointed to a ship to serve for the period during which she is in commission. At the end of that period, or if promoted or otherwise removed from her, they are placed on half-pay until again called upon to serve. As the number of naval officers always exceeds that of the appointments open to them, there are at all times many on the non-effective list receiving about 60 per cent. of the pay of their rank.
In the army, permanent half-pay, first granted in 1698, was abolished in 1884, retired pay being substituted for it. Under the provisions of the royal warrant of 1887, lieutenant-colonels who have held command for four years are placed on temporary half-pay (11s. a day) until promoted. Majors of seven years' regimental, or five years' staff service in that rank may claim promotion to half-pay lieutenant-colonelcies, and these or any officers of lower rank may be placed on the half-pay of their rank while incapacitated through ill-health, or as a punishment for inefficiency. Half-pay officers are eligible for any employment suited to their rank, but are not borne on the strength of any regiment.
Seconded officers are those who are extra-regimentally employed, but whose names remain on the rolls of their regiments, additional officers being appointed in their places. On the termination of such employment they are absorbed into the regiment as soon as vacancies occur in their proper rank.
Officers on retired pay are liable to be called upon to serve in case of national peril or great emergency.