ECE Soldier - Training

"You cannot take too much pains to maintain subordination in your corps."

-F. Grose, Advice to Officers and Soldiers of the British Army, 1801

"…the state offered every inducement in the way of monotonous diet, monotonous occupation, climactic discomfort, bad housing and abundant alcohol that could lure men to drink; and then deplored the drunkenness of the Army."

-Sir John Fortesque

"You cannot take too much pains to maintain subordination in your corps." -F. Grose, Advice to Officers and Soldiers of the British Army, 1801 "…the state offered every inducement in the way of monotonous diet, monotonous occupation, climactic discomfort, bad housing and abundant alcohol that could lure men to drink; and then deplored the drunkenness of the Army." -Sir John Fortesque		Licking the raw recruit into shape Satirical sketch by Bunbury, 1780 (Turberville 483)
Daybreak. Drummers and buglers deliver the "Reveille" call through the main streets of the garrison camp, and the squadron slowly rises in the darkness of the barracks. Before breakfast, as cavalrymen muck out the stables, you and the rest of the infantry engage in a 'smartening-up' footdrill. (Frey, 95-96) After a simple breakfast between 7:30 and 8:00 AM of dry bread and boiled beef or broth, you prepare for a day replete with repetitious drills and exhausting marches. (Brereton, 36) These parades not only to standardize the particular stiff-legged march-steps of the British infantry, but serve as principal means by which to establish strict, hierarchical discipline necessary for an efficient and effective army. A grumbling drill-sergeant presides over the first drill of the day, tapping his long cane menacingly. "Character, lads, character." While "character" is the repeated credo, "subordination" seems a more accurate term for the sergeant's principal goal. Officers are committed to the construction of a completely obedient, loyal, and deferential force. (Frey, 98-99)
Soldiers Drilling: Late 18th Century, Aquatint, artist unknown (Dewatteville, 93)	As you become more practiced, more time is devoted to increasingly sophisticated tactical maneuvers, often performed to the beat of drummers. You are taught to wheel and file in smaller squads, how to handle flintlock guns and bayonets, the precise process of loading and shooting, and ultimately, 'equalizing' the mechanics of movement and firepower. (Houlding, 260-262) 'Equalizing' is considered the most distinctive and challenging quality of the British military, in which the movements of all soldiers are meticulously synchronized to create consistent, disciplined lines of attack and fire even in the most chaotic of battles. (Houlding 291)
At 12:30 PM, you return to the barrack to prepare supper-your second and final meal of the day. Since the 'tattoo' call is not sounded until 9:30 PM and 'Lights Out' at 10:15 PM, you'll want to make this meal count! Again, the menu is limited: bread with stew, broth, or boiled beef, and the occasional block of cheese. (Brereton, 38) These fabulous dishes and more can be found in the unauthorized Soldier's Cookbook. The second half of the day is usually more of the same-two-hour drills (up to three in one day), plus dreaded 'fatigue duties.' On a given day you can be responsible for anything from chimney sweeping, snow shoveling, cartridge building and packing, and, worst of all, guard duty. (Frey, 94) This dreary work, performed with only tomorrow's breakfast (still 19 hours away) to look forward to, drives you to frequent the sleazy taverns and 'grog shops' set up around the barracks by civilian contractors, and imbibe the 5 pint daily ration of beer allotted to each soldier. Who can blame you? The officers decide to give you and your fellow grunts a free evening, and you have a choice: spend it learning the art of military hair-dressing, or go off to the grog shop?