 During the Crimean War, Sir George Cathcart held a dormant commission to take command of the British Army in Crimea if Lord Raglan was killed or disabled.In Australia, Section 4 of the Constitution allows the Queen to appoint an administrator to carry out the role of Governor-General when there is a vacancy.The Governors of the Australian states, by convention, are given dormant commissions to act as Administrator of the Commonwealth in the absence of a Governor-General.