Knowledge base
Overseas and Military
Life in the British Army 1760-1913
Until 1660 there was no regular army in England and Wales - instead individual regiments were raised to deal with a specific need as it arose. The first regular army was created after the English Civil War in 1642. Because of England’s regular involvement in war from the medieval period to the present day, it is very likely that many families will have had some association with the army at some point in their history. This makes these records a particularly valuable source for tracing your ancestors.
back to listReasons for joining
The army comprised a wide variety of recruits including many of those in economically disadvantaged states. A major reason for joining was as a means of climbing out of a state of poverty rather than through a sense of vocation. In 1813, Wellington complained, ‘We have in the service the scum of the earth as common soldiers.’ A report in 1909 attested that around 90% of soldiers would have had no other job in the outside world. A high proportion of recruits who couldn’t get work elsewhere came from areas of destitution, such as Ireland.
back to listLiving conditions
Barracks were not built in a widespread way until 1792 and most soldiers lived in public houses until then. As such, the Army was inherently associated with drink. Indeed, when the first barracks were built, the only form of social engagement was a ‘wet canteen’ that sold cheap alcohol.
The second half of the nineteenth century saw improvements in the quality of barrack life. Some canteens were built that sold soft drinks and libraries were developed. The barracks acted as a form of social control, keeping soldiers apart from regular society and galvanising their involvement in army life.
back to listRelationships and marriage
Marriage was discouraged as it was seen as a distraction from duty but six women were allowed per 100 men by the first half of the nineteenth century. This ratio was strictly enforced for foreign assignments. These women would comprise selected wives of the soldiers and would live usually in a tented-off area at the back of the barracks in return for doing chores. By about 1870 official married quarters had been set up although there was a limit to places. Marriages and births start to appear in the records after this time.
back to listDiscipline and the death penalty
Standards of conduct within the British Army were regarded as particularly high, certainly much higher than in civilian life. During the eighteenth century, some seemingly medieval punishments survived and were used for a variety of misdemeanours.
Flogging was a common punishment. Sometimes known as ‘riding the wooden horse’, the offender would have to sit astride a table mechanism and would then be flogged on the bare back. Such punishment was unpopular with the public but, in the Napoleonic era, a growing number of officers argued that developments in weaponry, such as the rifle replacing the short-range musket, necessitated a more highly disciplined forceas the weapon had more power and needed to be used with more skill.
The death penalty was deployed for military offences which were considered serious, such as desertion. Deserters would often now be considered to be suffering from ‘post traumatic stress disorder’ or ‘shell shock’ as it was categorised after the First World War.
Start searching our British Army Service Records 1760-1913 now. You'll also find search tips on this page if you need a helping hand.
previousnext