if a man was married when he joined, or he married with the Col’s permission, his wife officially belonged to the Regiment: she was listed on the strength.usually the kernel would grant permission only to a limited number of his men with a record of good behaviour; often a man had to have reached a minimum age and to have served a minimum period. It was usual for the bride’s character to be checked on, to avoid saddling the Regiment with prostitutes thieves or troublemakers.

For a soldier to marry without permission was a serious punishable offence, and  The army would refuse to acknowledge his wife and children at all: they were not on the strength, could draw no rations, ring titled to no help from any regimental charities.

Next in the series life on the strength

Reproduced with kind permission from the author Victoria Solt Dennis