Reformers - Army

Question 1

When was the Crimean War?

Answer 1

1854-56

Question 2

Why was the location of the Crimean War significant? (2)

Answer 2

It was the first European war since the Battle of Waterloo in 1815

It was the furthest war since the American War of Independence (1775-83) - 6,000 miles (highlighted supply and transport issues)

Question 3

How had the army changed since 1815 before the Crimean War?

Answer 3

Organisational structure had remained the same - but downsizing had been a major priority

So no improvements to structure + less troops

Question 4

Why was journalling significant in how the public viewed the Crimean War?

Answer 4

New telegraph meant that short news reports could be sent to Britain in hours

Journalists adopted a more personal style, focusing on the experience of the soldier

Question 5

What problems did the McNeill-Tulloch Report find in relation to the soldiers food supply? (2)

Which 2 divisions were particularly badly supplied?

Answer 5

Soldiers had poor health due to a lack of fresh food, especially vegetables

Not all units were supplied with their full ration of food
- 4th and Light divisions were particularly bad

Question 6

What did the majority of soldiers die from in the Crimean War?

Answer 6

Disease, not enemy action

Question 7

Which 3 types of equipment were often not replaced during the Crimean War?

Answer 7

Clothing

Knapsacks - soldiers had to shed them to move more quickly and were not allowed to recover them

Camp kettles - forced soldiers to cook in their mess tins, finding wood to keep fire going was hard

Question 8

Name an example of the army being too slow to distribute supplies after they arrived in Balaklava

Answer 8

Lime juice (important for preventing scurvy) was unloaded on 10 December 1854 but was not distributed for 2 months

Question 9

What percentage of horses died in the winter of 1854-55 due to a lack of feed?

Answer 9

40%

Question 10

What did the McNeill-Tulloch Report find about the loyalty of soldiers and leadership? (3)

Answer 10

Soldiers still going about their duty despite poor health

Officers were providing a good example

But coms between supply officer and army command was poor, with the commander-in-chief having little idea of the day-to-day situation

Question 11

What was the most significant consequence of the McNeill-Tulloch Report in terms of supply?

Answer 11

In 1558, the commissariat reformed - now mainly under the control of the army rather than civilians, ‘in-house’

Question 12

Why were the changes to military medicine not mainly down to the McNeill-Tulloch Report?

Answer 12

Mostly due to Florence Nightingale and the campaign led by The Times journalist William Russel

Question 13

Why did the McNeill-Tulloch Report cause a scandal when it was published?

Answer 13

It had official status unlike journalism so could not be downplayed by politicians

Question 14

What was the name of the board of enquiry that the army set up in response to the McNeill-Tulloch report?

Answer 14

Chelsea Board - tried to whitewash the report

Question 15

What was the name of the quartermaster general (in charge of supply) who had to demand an enquiry to clear his name due to the McNeill-Tulloch Report?

Answer 15

Sir Richard Airey

Question 16

What was the most significant consequence of the McNeill Tulloch Report in terms of control over the army?

Answer 16

Wellington wanted to keep politicians away from army business
- McNeill-Tulloch Report gave government more power in management of the army, reform became a matter for government ministers

Question 17

Why was there not much change after the McNeill-Tulloch Report?

Answer 17

Focus went back to colonial wars

Question 18

When were Cardwell’s army reforms?

Answer 18

1868-74

Question 19

Why did the changing internal political situation mean that army reform was back on the agenda in 1968?

Answer 19

William Gladstone won (Liberal) - he was an ambitious reformer

Question 20

Why did the changing European political situation mean that army reform was back on the agenda in 1968?

Answer 20

The Prussian Army (fared badly in wars against napoleon) was becoming a modern, professional army which was well organised and equipped.

Question 21

Name 3 countries which the Prussians had defeated in the lead-up to Cardwell’s reforms

How did the Prussian and British armies differ in terms of number of soldiers, including reservists?

Answer 21

Danes, Austrians, and French

Prussians - 400,000 during the war against Austrians using regulars backed by reservists

British - 100,000 in the standing army (1/4 of which was spread around the empire), and hardly any reservists

Question 22

Why was the army not an attractive career in the 1550s and 60s?

Why did this change?

Answer 22

Factory work paid better

Mid-1570s - economy slowing down, unemployment grew

Question 23

How much was the cheapest rank you could buy from the army?

How much did the average farm worker earn in comparison?

Answer 23

£450

Farmworker = £30-40 a year (meant only available to those from wealthy families

Question 24

Name some wealthy military men pre-Cardwell who had bought their rank but were very talented (2)

Name some examples of others who were less competent (2)

Answer 24

Wellington, Thomas Picton

Lord Cardigan and Lord Lucan

Question 25

What changes did Cardwell make to punishments to make the army a more appealing career?

Answer 25

Flogging was banned in peacetime in 1568 and branding abolished completely in 1771

Question 26

In what areas did Cardwell release British soldiers?

How many servicemen had returned to Britain by 1571?

Answer 26

Self-governing dominions of Canada, Australia and New Zealand were given the responsibility of raising their own troops

26,000

Question 27

When was bounty money abolished?

What did this mean?

Answer 27

1870

Recruiting sergeants would no longer benefit financially from the recruits they brought back and would be less inclined to trick them.

Question 28

When was the purchasing of commissions abolished?

Answer 28

1871

Question 29

How much money did Cardwell secure from parliament in 1870 to fund more troops?

How many more troops did it pay for?

Answer 29

£2 million

20,000

Question 30

What Act was passed in 1870 that changed the conditions under which people joined the army?

What happened to the length of service?

After how many years of service were you given a pension?

Answer 30

Army Enlistment Act of 1870

Rather than enlist for 12 years, soldiers were able to serve 6 years in the regulars and then 6 in the reserves. In the event of war, they would rejoin the regular army until the end of the war/service

21 years

Question 31

What Act was passed in 1871 that put an end to general service?

How did it make regiments more closely linked with an area?

Answer 31

Regulation of the Forces Act

Each regiment would have 2 battalions - one at home, one at sea. Soldiers could potentially serve half their time in their local area.

Question 32

Why was the recruitment problem not as big an issue in the 1870s?

Answer 32

Army not as overstretched - short, successful campaign in South Africa in 1879 + Afghanistan (1878-80) mostly fought with colonial troops

Question 33

Despite improvement due to Cardwell’s reforms, which aspects of the soldiers’ conditions had not been addressed?

Answer 33

Pay - a private still earned less than a manual worker. 3/4 of pay claimed back as ‘stoppages’

Question 34

What suggests that the improvement of meritocracy that Cardwell was successful?

However, why was the success limited?

Answer 34

Purchase of commissions not brought back under Conservative government in 1874

Advantages of a wealthy family and better education meant officers were still largely drawn from upper and upper-middle classes (wasn’t until WW1 that this really changed)

Question 35

When were the Childers Reforms?

Answer 35

1881

Question 36

Why was the Regulation of the Forces Act difficult to fully put into effect?

What did Childers do to improve the situation?

Answer 36

Many of the infantry’s regiments only had one battalion - either had to raise a second from scratch or co-operate with another regiment

Got rid of the numbers system - amalgamated regiments under new titles - sometimes had to re-locate

Question 37

Name an example of a regiment which was allowed to keep its old name

Name an example of how a regiment protested against the changes

Answer 37

‘The Buffs’ from Kent

92nd regiment (Gordan Highlanders) held a mock funeral

Question 38

When were Haldane’s Army Reforms?

Answer 38

1905-12

Question 39

Which two halves did Haldane reorganise the army into?

Answer 39

Expeditionary force - more professional, for deployment overseas.

Territorial Force - used for home defence

Question 40

What was the name for the training scheme that Haldane created by combing various cadet groups based at universities and public schools?

How many students had enrolled by 1914?

Answer 40

Officer Training Corps - organised from the War Office

25,000

Question 41

What did Haldane set up to improve the improvised and undisciplined nature of local forces?

Name an example of a dominion force which was particularly unruly beforehand

What measure was taken to ensure local governments still maintained some of their rights?

What is the long-lasting impact?

Answer 41

Created Imperial General Staff to oversee strategic matters in the Empire. All local units were reorganised along the lines of the new BEF.

e.g., Candian Scouts

Local governments and commanders had the right to veto

Dominion troops played a major part during both world wars