Changes in Organisation in the Military 1793 - 1914

• Traditionally the army was thought to be fit for purpose


  It gave every serviceman a home barracks and enabled the army to be administered relatively efficiently
• Cavalry regiments


  • Posted onto active service as a whole
• Infantry regiments


  • Released individual battalions for duty overseas
• The problem was that it made it difficult to attract new recruits
• As the 19th century moved on, the career of soldering was made less attractive compared to factory work and labouring
• The possibility of being posted to an unpopular regiment and then spending years in the tropics put men off
• Victorian sensibilities about having the "right" sort of man for the armed forces made the recruitment of convicted criminals, which had proven such a rich source of manpower during the wars against the French, less appealing
• Purchasing of rank


  Practice since the 18th century, became increasingly regarded with suspicion, especially by the Liberals
• The idea of a meritocracy began to gain favour with liberal politicians and this was accelerated with continental wars, like the Crimean and the Austro-Prussian War 1866
• It revealed that the British army was not the force it had been when it fought Napoleon
• The success of the Prussian army with its highly professional officer corps showed the poorer quality of British leadership
• The government began to consider that advancement on merit was better for the army
• 19th-century armies


  • Underwent significant changes in equipment and weaponry
• At the Battle of Waterloo in 1815


  • Infantry primarily used Brown Bess muskets, cavalry charged with swords, and artillery fired round shot and canister
• Weapon advancements


  1. Muzzle-loading muskets replaced by rifles, eventually becoming breech-loading, enabling faster reloading and higher rates of fire

  2. Infantry operated various support weapons like mortars, machine guns, and tanks, while artillery experimented with different explosive shells
• New weapons necessitated increased ammunition production
• Brown Bess musket


  Infantry's main weapon, had limited firing capability due to fouled barrels, but soldiers could produce bullets using mobile forges
• Supplying artillery


  Mirrored infantry methods on a cottage industry basis
• Cavalry fired even fewer bullets, with sword maintenance being crucial
• Weapon advancements included breech-loading rifles requiring specialised cartridges and high explosive shells for cannons, increasing demand for munitions
• Eventually, munitions production shifted from army-made to purpose-built factories
• The British army often had poor quality uniforms and footwear
• Equipment was of such low quality that obtaining items from dead enemies, like boots, was considered a good reward
• Uniforms were poorly made, with dye running and turning them into a shade of grey-brown
• Officers preferred to pay for their own uniforms rather than using government-issued equipment
• Unlike other armies, the British did not typically live off the land when fighting the French
• The British recognized the importance of maintaining good relations with the local population
• Looting was prohibited and punished
• Local food was available for purchase, but mainly supplied by the British Navy from Britain
• As campaigns progressed, supply lines became stretched, leading to soldiers often going hungry
• The Crimean War highlighted ongoing issues in British army logistics and supply
• Observers in 1854 noted British soldiers suffering in terrible conditions without adequate equipment, clothing, or food
• Many soldiers were in poor physical condition, exacerbating their plight
• The greatest threats to British soldiers during the winter of 1854-55 were cold, hunger, and disease
• Supply inefficiencies, including the long line of supply through the Black Sea, Mediterranean, and Atlantic, hindered the delivery of necessary provisions to the front lines
• In 1815, the British Empire


  • Encompassed Canada, certain islands in the West Indies, and segments of India
• By the late 19th century


  • India had become entirely under British control, Australia and New Zealand were fully integrated into the Empire, similar to Canada, but still had undeveloped areas
• With the expansion of the Empire, there was a growing necessity to send armed forces globally
• Meeting the demands of supplying armed forces became a central concern, requiring a professional central administration
• Reforms in the 19th century primarily focused on enhancing supply logistics and meeting the increased demands of the expanding Empire