Citation details
"11th Regiment of Light Dragoons, Lieutenant Frederick Sutton to be Captain, by purchase, vice Vivian, who retires. Dated 3d June 1842.
Cornet Mills Cave Browne Cave to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Sutton. Dated 3d June 1842.
William Stephen Sandes, Gent. to be Cornet, by purchase, vice Cave. Dated 3d June 1842."
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This textbook example of a "purchase chain" (sometimes called a promotion cascade) within the British Army's purchase system. Because positions were bought and sold like property, a single retirement at the top caused a domino effect that opened up promotions all the way down the line.
(The Exit): A Captain named Vivian decided to retire from the service. To do so, he "sold out" his captain's commission to recover his money.
(The Captain's Slot): Lieutenant Frederick Sutton was the senior lieutenant ready to move up. He paid the War Office the financial difference between a Lieutenant's commission and a Captain's commission to take Vivian's place. Sutton is promoted to Captain.
(The Lieutenant's Slot): Because Sutton moved up, his old Lieutenant slot was left empty. Cornet Mills Cave Browne Cave stepped up to buy that vacancy. Cave paid the difference to upgrade his rank and became a Lieutenant.
(The Entry Point): Now that Cave moved up to Lieutenant, his entry-level rank of Cornet sat completely vacant. This allowed William Stephen Sandes, entering from civilian life (denoted as "Gent." for Gentleman), to buy his very first officer's commission. He paid the flat regulation price for a Cornetcy, took over the vacancy "vice Cave," and officially entered the regiment.