Recruitment+training 1850-1900

Question 1

(Problems with recruitment by 1850s) Recruitment fell

Answer 1

40 years of relative peace until 1854 meant recruitment fell short of the numbers funded. Most troops were abroad fighting for the empire. Local militia had to supplement 25,000 for Crimea.

Question 2

(Problems with recruitment by 1850s) quality of troops

Answer 2

Crimean war exposed problems, especially with the quality of officers

Question 3

Gladstone’s governement…

Answer 3

Appointed Edward Cardwell as secretary of state for war. He wanted to make the army more professional.

Question 4

(Cardwell’s reforms) abolished flogging

Answer 4

(Hitting men with whips/sticks as a punishment). Made recruits more likely to join as they wouldn’t be humiliated in front of peers.

Question 5

(Cardwell’s reforms) reduced the length of service

Answer 5

It went from 21 to 12 years. More people willing to join if they weren’t making as big of a commitment.

Question 6

(Cardwell’s reforms) localisation

Answer 6

Regiments were to be organised by county. Meant soldiers train and fight with people from their county

Question 7

(Cardwell’s reforms) abolished purchase of commission

Answer 7

Meant that men knew that their officers were in their position based off merit. They could also be encouraged by the chance of promotion. Officers weren’t promoted due to wealth or nepotism

Question 8

(Training) cadets

Answer 8

By 1860s, officers came into the army via the junior department of the Royal Military college in Sandhurst. Artillery/engineering officers trained at Woolwich.

Question 9

(Training) existing officers

Answer 9

The Senior Department of RMC gave in-service training for existing officers

Question 10

(Training) Trainers

Answer 10

Rifle instructors trained at Hythe in 1853. Gunnery instructors trained at Shoeburyness in 1859.

Question 11

Provisioning and requisitioning

Answer 11

-crimea highlighted problems in supplying troops. From 1855, the war office took over transport and supplies. Also cut back on requisitioning

-1855, war office set up Land Transport Corps (later renamed ‘the military train’) that had it’s own wagons and animals

-1888, Army Service Corps was created. Specialised in provision and movement of supplies

Question 12

Why did Crimea lead to changes in attitudes towards war?

Answer 12

-More awareness via press
-civillians more politically active, including within the army