children were also entitled to draw a ration of between one third and one quarter of the soldiers ration if the wife were on the strength; if a soldier married without permission, the Army didn’t recognise this children and more than that it didn’t recognise his wife. Many children born in barracks died young as most Barrack rooms were damp, dark, unventilated and generally unhealthy. To those who survived, three regimental schools were established by order of the Duke of York (the commander-in-chief) in 1812, though some regiments had their own in many years before that. This was 20 years before free state education began in Britain. Children were taught reading writing and arithmetic: the boys were encouraged to join the Army and were considered likely to make good sergeants. Girls were taught domestic skills as well, to fit them for domestic service: in some schools they were allowed to keep any clothes they made in sewing lessons to compensate their mothers are losing their daughter’s Labour.

next in the series Discipline

reproduced by kind permission from the author Victoria sort Dennis