British Army: background knowledge Flashcards
Why was the British army struggling with recruitment?
They had no conscription unlike France
1793, the army only amounted to 40K men
What was pay like for British soldiers?
Less than farmers but the army offered food, drink, shelter and the prospect of loot.
–> bounty for signing up to £40
What was marriage like for British soldiers?
Soldier’s were encouraged not to marry
–> only few wives could accompany husbands on active service
What was the death rate like for British soldiers?
1794: 18,596 soldiers died on active service
Over next 2 years, 40,639 men discharged on account of wounds/ infirmity
What was discipline like for British soldiers?
Brutal as soldiers were flogged for ‘crimes’.
-> People like Sir John Moore argued for better treatment and that kindness would be a better motivation
What was the militia like?
1/5 of the British land forces were restricted solely for home defence
—> recruits selected based on ballot and had to serve 5 years minimum
Foreign recruitment within the British army?
After 1714, British kings also ruled over Hanover so when in 1803, Napoleon occupied Hanover and thus Hanoverians fled to Britain and joined the King’s German Legion
—> 1813, 52k foreign soldiers
What was the army service like?
Most deployed to defend Britain and Ireland
—> few men could be spared for offensive action.
What is the purchase of commissions?
Rich father bought sons an ensign’s commission and these sons would purchase successive promotions as vacancies appeared.
- commissions were not purchased in the Royal Artillery or Royal Engineers
- During Peninsular war, lesss than 1/5 of the officers were promoted via means of purchase
-Purchase system was stopped in 1808 at lieutenant rank.
Branches of the army: the artillery
Horse and foot artillery
- Horses marched alongside the guns and more mobile.
-each gun pulled by 8 horses
- no artillery militia available
What types of guns did the British army have back then?
6 guns, usually 5 cannons and one howitzer
- cannon= flat trajectory // Most cannons were 4-6 pounders.
- short barrelled howitzer were used to lob projectiles on top of enemy
How were projectiles used in the British army?
Guns could hit targets 1000m away but range is dependent on the eleveation
- most common= round shot
- canister made of small cast-iron balls within a metal can can disintegrate on discharge ( 300 yards range)
- Shrapnel shell effective at 700 yards, a metal ball fired with musket balls.
What were congreave’s rockets?
1806, his 32 pound rockets had a range of 3000 years
—> not the best accuracy tho (not popular with heavy army
What were cavalry like in the British army?
1808, 20 cavalry regiments with around 900 men.
—> Light cavalry: troops on smaller mounts, carried a sabre and used for reconnaissance, escort or pursuit
—> Heavy cavalry: large men mounted on big horses and armed with straight swords
All cavalry men carried a carbine for short range combat
What was infantry like in the British army?
1808, 103 regiments, most described by numbers whilst some had a territorial designation
—> disease and casualties meant battalions often went to battle with around 550 men compared to 950.
