'It's A Long, Long Way To - The C.O. : From Private to Pensioner; or, How a British Soldier Gained the Ear of His Colonel.' Satirical cartoon by H. M. Bateman commenting on the complicated chain of command men had to endure before being able to speak to the commanding officer (in this case, the Colonel). By the time this private gets to speak to him, he is an elderly, bearded, Chelsea Pensioner.