Quartermaster. In the British army the quartermaster-general is a staff-officer of high rank (major-general or colonel) who deals with all questions of supply, transport, marches, quarters, fuel, clothing, &c. He ranks next after the adjutant-general or senior staff-officer to the commander-in-chief at the War Office, and has under him two assistants and three deputy-assistants. The army in India has a similar staff for these duties, and so has every division; but since 1889 the title of assistant adjutant-general (B) has been substituted for that of assistant quartermaster-general on the staff at home. In a brigade the duties fall upon the brigade-major. A quartermaster is an officer on the staff of a depot, a cavalry regiment, or an infantry battalion, charged with the care of stores, issues of clothing, food, forage, and fuel, allotment of barracks, tents, &c. In the native army of India he is a combatant officer of the staff-corps, but in other cases he is commissioned from the ranks as honorary lieutenant, and promoted after ten years' service, or for distinguished conduct, to the honorary rank of captain or major. In the Royal Artillery there are 44 quartermasters, in the Army Service Corps 49, and in the Royal Engineers 120, not counting those in the militia and volunteers. Several are employed, at the War Office and elsewhere, on duties different from those mentioned above; the War Office librarian, for instance, in 1891 being a quartermaster of the Royal Engineers. The daily pay of a quartermaster is 9s. for infantry; 9s. 6d. for garrison artillery and engineers, with 2s. 6d. engineer pay in addition in the latter corps; and 10s. 6d. for mounted troops, rising every five years by increments of 1s. 6d. to 15s., 15s. 6d., and 16s. 6d. respectively. After twenty years' commissioned service, or when fifty-five years of age, a quartermaster is compulsorily retired on a pension of £200 a year, or somewhat less if his total service as a soldier does not amount to thirty years. A quartermaster-sergeant assists the quartermaster in a regiment or battalion.
In the navy the quartermasters are first-class petty officers; at sea they are stationed at the con, their duty being to take care that the helmsmen keep the ship on her proper course, and also to see that all orders from the officer of the watch affecting the movements of the helm are promptly and correctly carried out; they also assist in heaving the log and in taking soundings when necessary. In harbour they keep regular watch at the gangways, looking out for boats arriving and leaving, and conveying the necessary orders for the carrying out of the work of the ship. Their pay depends upon their gunnery or torpedo qualifications, number of good-conduct badges, &c., and will be found under the heading PETTY OFFICER.