Impact of Crimea Wars - Military Reforms

Question 1

What was the main issue with the army in the Crimean War?

Answer 1

• There style of land warfare had hardly changed since the French Wars
• BA had not fought a major European battle since Waterloo
• Recent success in the Opium Wars made BA over confident
• Organisation of the army remained the same, with Wellington as commander in chief for 1842-52

Question 2

What was the Roebuck’s Committee report?

Answer 2

• A report carried out in June 1855 investigating the conditions of the army in June 1855
• Criticised the arrangements for transport, provisioning and health care
• Condemned ministers for having sanctioned an expedition which was ill-prepared for a protracted war

Question 3

What was the McNeill-Tulloch report?

Answer 3

• Both were sent to the Crimea in Feb 1855
• They looked into the working of the Commissariat and causes of delay in the distribution of stores to Balaclava
• Criticised Ragland personal staff and Commissary General Filder

Question 4

What were the findings of the McNeill-Tulloch report?

Answer 4

• Majority of deaths were a result of disease and poor health could be linked to a lack of fresh food
• Army was not supplying all units with their daily ration, e.g 4th and light divisions
• Army was short of medicine and medical supplies and communication between supply officers and commanders was horrible
• Congestion at Balaclava Harbour was leading to waste

Question 5

What is the Lime Juice incident uncovered in the McNeill Tulloch report?

Answer 5

• Lime juice which is important for preventing Scurvy was mishandled at Balaclava
• It was unloaded at Balaclava in December 1854 but not distributed until February 1855

Question 6

How many horses were found to be dead by the McNeill-Tuloch report during the winter of 1854-55?

Answer 6

• 40% died
• Not enough food being unloaded for them

Question 7

When was a Royal Warrant issued and what changes did this lead to?

Answer 7

• October 1858
• Led to a reform of the Commissariat and shift of responsibility to the army
• Army began to take responsibility, with more barrack construction in 1859-60
• Shift of control from the Army high command with elite officers, down to the normal army and governmental control

Question 8

When were Cardwell’s reforms introduced?

Answer 8

1868-74

Question 9

Why did Cardwell introduce short-term enlistments?

Answer 9

• He introduced them to reduce to pension list and help form a reserve with men who were in the prime of their life
• Induce a better class of men in the army and improve recruitment process
• Enhance the appeal of service life and improve recruitment

Question 10

What was Cardwell hoping to abolish with his reforms, when did this end up happening?

Answer 10

• Wanted to abolish the purchase system
• He pushed it through the Commons in July 1871 but failed to secure a passage of the bill through the Lords
• Government then resolved this and announced the abolition of purchase by Royal Warrant from November 1871

Question 11

What was the Localisation Act of 1872 introduced by Cardwell?

Answer 11

• Divided the country into 66 territorial districts and based two regular, two militia battalions and a quota of volunteers in each district with a depot to receive recruits
• This was to foster local communications, improve efficiency of the auxiliary forces and induce militia men to join the army

Question 12

Despite Cardwell reorganising the War Office, why was it still rubbish?

Answer 12

• No planning department was established - led to them being unorganised despite that being the thing they wanted to fight
• There was also no chief of staff to set out the strategy of the army

Question 13

Did Cardwell’s short term enlistment work?

Answer 13

• Army had lost more men than it gained
• Recruitment still was one of the leading issues in the army

Question 14

Did the abolition of the purchase system produce any good?

Answer 14

• Did not alter the composition of the officer corps much at all
• Officers still came from the same class in 1900 as they did in 1870
• The elite still ruled

Question 15

Ddi the Localisation Act achieve anything?

Answer 15

• Did not transform the army at a local level
• The constant need for men overseas meant there was never enough battalions at home, the problem of low number of soldiers persisted
• Only 59 battalions supporting 82 overseas
• Overseas got way more men

Question 16

Did the attitudes towards ordinary soldiers change?

Answer 16

• In the past all military heroes were generals, whereas now people were more proud of the common troop who put their life on the line for their country
• Gallant servicemen began receiving the Victoria Cross from Feb 1856
• 1861 the Crimean War was commemorated with the unveiling of a Guards Memorial in London, people were respecting ordinary soldiers

Question 17

How did the middle classes attitudes change as the army did?

Answer 17

• Military mismanagement caused the middle class to oppose birth privilege
• Conservative and Liberal Gov introduced reforms that promoted middle class ideals

Question 18

Even after all reforms what problems persisted with the army?

Answer 18

• The landed class still had an extreme amount of power, holding Parliament, the Army and many cores of power
• The fact that the Crimean War ended in victory reinforced the idea that the British Army did not need reforms to many