Breadth 1: Organising the Military (Army) Flashcards
(34 cards)
What is a regiment?
A military unit consisting of two battalions, often linked to a geographical area.
What was the Commissariat?
Department responsible for military transportation and supply. It was poorly equipped for war, meaning supply chains broke down and soldiers did not always get what they needed.
What was the Army traditionally made up of?
Volunteers. Conscription was only introduced in the latter half of WW1.
How were ships organised in the Royal Navy?
Ships organised into flotillas, which are then organised into fleets.
What were the problems with the regimental system?
Difficult to attract new recruits. Men were hesitant because of the possibility of being stationed in the tropics. Victorian sensibilities also deterred the Army from hiring criminals.
Was the regimental system a meritocracy?
No. Upper class men often bought their rank and lower class men could not progress through skill. This practice was challenged in continental wars, like the Crimean War.
What were the uniforms like in the French Wars?
Poor. British soldiers often looked sloppily dressed. The red dye of the uniform faded into a grey-brown. Many soldiers prized the boots and backpacks of French casualties.
How did handheld artillery develop?
1815 - Men used “Brown Bess” muskets, firing in a line.
Muzzle-loading muskets were replaced by rifles, which became breech-loading (loaded in the back rather than the front.)
By WW1, there were a range of small weapons like small mortars and stationary machine guns.
Why did demand for bullets increase throughout the 19th century?
Fire rate improved, meaning more bullets were needed. Machine guns were also notorious for rapid fire. Because of increased demand and more complex, explosive shells, armies could no longer make bullets on the go.
How did food get supplied to troops during the French Wars?
It came from Britain, through the Navy, or was purchased locally by the Quartermaster’s staff. The British refused to live off the land, choosing to stay on good terms with the locals.
Why was the expansion of the British Empire problematic for supplying the Army?
Troops were needed in many different places around the globe, meaning that supply lines became stretched.
When were the two parts of the McNeill-Tulloch Report filed?
Part 1 - June 1855 (focused on condition of the soldiers.)
Part 2 - January 1856 (focused on supply chain with medical updates.)
What were the main findings of the McNeill-Tulloch Report?
- Majority of casualties in the Crimean War stemmed from disease rather than combat.
- Lack of fresh food, especially vegetables.
- Not everyone was receiving their fully daily ration of food.
- Ordinary soldiers attended to their duties despite poor health.
- Soldiers were forced to cook in their mess tins and struggled to keep fires going due to lack of wood.
- Lack of feed for horses.
- Lack of medical supplies.
- Poor communication between the supply officer and Army command.
What was the incident involving lime juice in the McNeill-Tulloch Report?
Lime juice is important for preventing scurvy. Lime juice arrived at Balaklava in December 1854, but was not distributed to troops until February 1855.
What were some suggestions outlined in the McNeill-Tulloch Report?
They suggested an improvement in organisation and supply procedures. Supplies were plentiful, but were not being distributed to troops on the front line.
They also suggested a nutritional diet for soldiers and to replace the rum ration with porter (a dark beer said to “build you up.”)
What changes to the Army were influenced by the McNeill-Tulloch Report?
In 1858, a royal warrant was issued for a reform of the Commissariat. The Army itself had to take responsibility for supplies, rather than relying on civilian sources.
What was the main consequence of the McNeill-Tulloch Report?
The control of the Army shifted. The government began to play a more central role in organising the Army because of its failings, rather than the monarch or the generals.
When were the Cardwell Reforms?
1868-74
Why had the Army gone largely unchanged since 1815?
The generals didn’t want to change. They believed that since their Army had defeated Napoleon, it was still the best in the world. The Duke of Wellington also had a great amount of influence as he had ventured into politics.
Why was economic prosperity in the 1850s and 1860s problematic for Army recruitment?
Young men wanted factory work, which paid more and had better conditions compared to the 12 years of service and punishments that occurred in the Army.
What problem did Cardwell have with the promotion system?
Soldiers were not promoted by skill, but rather by buying titles/roles. The cheapest rank cost £450, whilst an average farm worker earned only £30 a year. Whilst great leaders had purchased rank like Napoleon and Wellington, it could also be argued that Lord Raglan and Lord Lucan were examples of why purchasing rank should be abolished.
When was the Army Enlistment Act and what did it do?
1870 - rather than serve 12 years in the military, men would serve 6 years in the regulars and 6 years in the reserves. When the 12 year period ended, men were free to negotiate longer terms. 21 years of service carried a pension.
When was the Regulation of the Forces Act and what did it do?
1871 - ended general service (a man could no longer be sent anywhere if he joined the Army.) Linked regiments closer to areas.
What punishments were abolished under the Cardwell Reforms?
1868 - Flogging in Peacetime
1871 - Branding
