Changes In The Military 1790-1918

Question 1

What were the 3 reforms introduced by the duke of York to the military from 1790-1815

Answer 1

• ending the worst excesses of the purchase system (making the military more meritocratic)
• establishing a military college to improve the professionalism of the officer class
• creating light infantry regiments

Question 2

Which war sought the McNeil-Tulloch report

Answer 2

The Crimean war

Question 3

At what base did McNeil-Tulloch review the organisation of the military

Answer 3

Balaclava (the Crimea)

Question 4

What was the outcome of the McNeil-Tulloch report

Answer 4

The commisariat was reformed and made more professional in 1858

Question 5

What military reforms took place in 1856-68

Answer 5

A major barracks construction program was launched but little was done to exchange the appeal of service life

Question 6

Why was service life poor in the years 1856-68

Answer 6

• soldiers remained poorly paid

* military discipline was harsh- for example, flogging had not been abolished until 1881

Question 7

What did the Crimean war and Indian mutiny highlight about the military before 1868

Answer 7

It was inefficient in both its structure and organisation in comparison to powerful military forces being established in the German empire

Question 8

Who was the Secretary of State for war between 1868-74

Answer 8

Edward Cardwell

Question 9

What were Edward Cardwells reforms and what was their consequences

Answer 9

• short term enlistments were introduced (only 6 year engagement then a unit would join the reserves)- led to a loss in troops
• the purchase system was completely abolished (making the military more meritocratic and the first real attempt to change the social composition of the officers)- did in reality not alter the social composition of officer corps
• battalions were based on 66 separate districts across the country, one of the two would serve abroad whilst the other was based at home - the constant need for men to serve abroad put great strain on the home battalions

Question 10

What was the cuase that prompt haldanes reforms to the military?

Answer 10

• government investigations into military planning, recruitment and army organisation of the boer war
• by 1905, Germany had established itself as a potential enemy

Question 11

What were haldanes reforms to the military from 1905-1912

Answer 11

•exsisting military corps in schools and universities were reorganised into Officer training corps

haldane envisiaged a two-line army:
•an expeditionary force of 150,000 men
•a territorial force (volunteers, militia and the yeomanry) of over 200,000 men by 1913

Question 12

What was the consequence of haldanes reforms

Answer 12

The value of haldanes reforms was shown in 1914 with the efficient mobilisation and performance of the British expeditionary force in the early months of WW1

Question 13

What did General Douglas Haig sought to improve in The military in 1914

Answer 13

It’s preparedness by holding regular large-scale manoeuvres

Question 14

What did Henry Wilson formulate for the military in 1914

Answer 14

Mobilisation plans (the preparation of railway timetables and shipping arrangements)

Question 15

What had army officers underestimated at the start of WW1

Answer 15

The potential of the machine gun and thought that cavalry charges would win battles

Question 16

In mid-1914 how many divisions were in the German army

Answer 16

84 divisions

Question 17

In mid-1914 how many divisions were in the French army

Answer 17

66 divisions

Question 18

In mid-1914 how many divisions were in the British army

Answer 18

6 divisions

Question 19

By 1818, how many warships were left in commission

Answer 19

121 warships were in commission in 1818

Question 20

In 1815, how many warships were in commission

Answer 20

713

Question 21

What percentage of commissioned officers were on half pay in 1818

Answer 21

90%

Question 22

Which war did paddle steamers demonstrate the effectiveness of steam powerd warships

Answer 22

The first opium war with China

Question 23

What was a design flaw with paddle steamers in the navy

Answer 23

The twin paddles occupied too much room for an effective broadside

Question 24

In the 1830’s and 1840’s did the British army rely mainly on steam or sail power’d ships

Answer 24

Sail power

Question 25

When was the screw propeller first introduced

Answer 25

Late 1830’s

Question 26

What was advantageous about the screw propeller compared with paddle steamers

Answer 26

The screw propeller was located in the stern of the ship therefore it did not interfere with the broadside

Question 27

What was the first battleship fitted with the screw propeller

Answer 27

HMS Ajax

Question 28

In 1853, what was the most powerful battleship, how many guns did it have and how fast did it go?

Answer 28

The HMS Duke of Wellington
131 guns
10 knots

Question 29

Who was the first lord of admiralty in the year 1830-34

Answer 29

Sir James graham

Question 30

What were the for reforms introduced by sir James graham

Answer 30

1) the amalgamation of the admiralty and the navy board which improved the navy’s administration and ensured less nepotism, bribery and corruption
2) all crew were to be skilled in gunnery
3) the system of automatic promotions ended-officers had to have 2 years experience at sea before being promoted to commander
4) the civilian run naval office was abolished and all aspects of supply were placed under naval control

Question 31

Why was there a need to modernise the navy in the late 1890’s

Answer 31

Virtually all naval vessels had changed from sail and wood to steam and steel

These technological changes forced Britain to keep modernising its navy which was very costly

Question 32

In 1889, what naval policy regarding naval strength did Britain adopt

Answer 32

Britain’s naval strength was kept Up to the combined strength of of the next 2 greatest powers

Question 33

What was the 1898 German naval law and what was its consequences

Answer 33

The 1898 German naval law said that Germany would double the size of its naval fleet- this posed a threat to Britain’s superiority and thus its trade and sercurity

Question 34

Who was the first sea lord in 1904-9

Answer 34

Admiral fisher

Question 35

What was the selbourne scheme

Answer 35

Created by admiral fisher

All naval officers were to be trained in common. Later they could specialise in engineering, navigation or gunnery.

As these officers reached a higher rank, all would be eligible to command ships and for promotion to admiral

Question 36

Why did admiral fisher create the slebourne scheme

Answer 36

To produce a more meritocratic officers and a less class-bound navy

Question 37

In what year were submarines first built in Britain

Answer 37

1902

Question 38

How many times cheaper was it to build submarines compared to battleships

Answer 38

25 times

Question 39

What did the building of the dreadnought battleship spark between Britain and Germany

Answer 39

A naval race as the dreadnought was so powerful it made all other battleships obsolete

Question 40

After 1793, how many men were in the navy

Answer 40

120,000