field cornet

British  

noun

1. Often shortened to: cornet.  a commander of burgher troops called up in time of war or in an emergency, esp during the 19th century

---

Example Sentences

He claimed liberty to ignore the most urgent commands of his field cornet, and might even unreproved slap him in the face.

From With the Guards' Brigade from Bloemfontein to Koomati Poort and Back by Lowry, Edward P.

As may be imagined, it goes very hard on these occasions with the property of any individual whom the field cornet may not happen to like.

From Cetywayo and his White Neighbours Remarks on Recent Events in Zululand, Natal, and the Transvaal by Haggard, Henry Rider

He served in the first Anglo-Boer War of 1880-81 as a field cornet, and from 1881 to 1896 he lived on his farm, becoming in 1897 member of the Volksraad.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 3 "Destructors" to "Diameter" by Various

George Meyer, the field cornet, knew perfectly well that he was exceeding his authority, but thought it too good a joke to desist.

From Boer Politics by Guyot, Yves

The squadron of Imperial Light Horse and the Natal Carabineers now advanced slowly along the ridge, clearing it of the enemy, slaying and retrieving one field cornet and two burghers, and capturing ten horses.

From London to Ladysmith via Pretoria by Churchill, Winston