Sgts SLI 1897

[Alan O]

Somerset LI 1897

An interesting mix of Glengarrys but also a couple of the new FSC. It appears they are using the 13th badge on the FSC.


https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/somers...prince-alberts

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by Alan O

Somerset LI 1897

An interesting mix of Glengarrys but also a couple of the new FSC. It appears they are using the 13th badge on the FSC.


https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/somers...prince-alberts

The battalion’s Schoolmaster is sat adjacent to the sergeant major and stands out like a sore thumb in his khaki FSC and no whistle. It’s mostly the more senior staff with the new FSC. SM, QMS and Bugle Maj, or ORC in the front row.

[Alan O]

Which is an interesting seating with significant seniority that one might not expect.

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by Alan O

Which is an interesting seating with significant seniority that one might not expect.

If in the last quartile of his career the Schoolie would be a warrant officer, the third possible after the SM and BM.

[Alan O]

Indeed hence the placement.

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by Alan O

Indeed hence the placement.

They were commonly near the front because of their appointment as much as rank.

[gb64]

Great picture ,there are some precariously balanced Glengarry's amongst them


Gerard

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by gb64

Great picture ,there are some precariously balanced Glengarry's amongst them


Gerard

They were often tailored to be less tall as in this case.

[cbuehler]

Also interesting in that they are wearing collar badges. Very unusual at this time for line infantry regiments on KD.

[Toby Purcell]

It depended upon the regiment more than any pan army policy. It depended upon the regiment more than any pan army policy. For example the four rifle regiments generally did not favour collar badges, but many fusilier regiments did. Here are 2nd Connaught Rangers just a few years after.

[oc14]

Interesting to see the "Inkerman Chain" being worn attached directly to the tunic, never seen that before, only ever seen it attached to a red sash up to this point....

Paul

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by oc14

Interesting to see the "Inkerman Chain" being worn attached directly to the tunic, never seen that before, only ever seen it attached to a red sash up to this point....

Paul

Yes Paul, at that time sashes were not worn with KD for working dress but the whistles were. If in guard order (duty in general), or review order then whistles were fitted to the red sashes. Sashes were not worn with all forms of dress until a change in policy ordered in 1922. Dress where they had not previously been worn included blue serge patrol frocks and KD. They were worn with tropical whites in review order and scarlets likewise. As a result photos taken post WW1 look very different to those pre WW1.

[grumpy]

As a generality, schoolmasters were not battalion staff; they were posted to a garrison as is clearly shown in period Army Lists, and the fact that unit standing orders do not include them in the staff appointments. Thus they are inconsistent inclusions in unit portraits.
Nevertheless there were often about as many schoolies as units in a garrison or cantonment. They were never to go on active service, yet very senior. Anecdotally, they were the oddballs; neither fish nor fowl, better educated than many officers, and resented by the senior staff WOs and SNCOs, with much better pay.
This contrasts with the other non-combatant WO the bandmaster; posted to the unit, badged to it, and paid less.

In the year of the portrait the schoolmasters' only rank/appointment obvious distinctions on most orders of dress were the crown headdress badge and the bullion shoulder cords. I fail to see either, but there might briefly have been an informal "very senior soldier" distinction. I have seen it before, where the FSC is worn by the top men, and the Glengarry by the remainder.
It may just be bagging the nice new issue as it came in.

Otherwise the schoolmaster may just have had a few "call me sir" moments until he was well known, relying on wearing his trousers without puttees, probably a better quality of KD and a cane.

[Toby Purcell]

I totally concur with your comments regarding the Schoolmaster of the later Victorian and into the Edwardian period, but it’s a little misleading to imply they were never an integral part of a battalion and only served a garrison as as whole (if I’ve paraphrased you correctly). I say this only because researched and published histories of the schoolmasters describe them as being originally employed, and responsible for, the specifically “regimental” (mostly battalion) school, where they had two specific roles. First to educate illiterate soldiers via mandatory lessons and second to educate the soldiers’ children.

To carry out that dual role they were often aided by schoolmistresses and the officers commanding battalions provided a suitable regimental barracks building as the schoolroom. These barracks were in some cases single unit stations in the back of beyond and it’s clear that the schoolmaster was a member of the battalion. I think I recall reading that one of the earliest regimental schools was established by a Foot Guards regiment.

As for the photo in question the fellow without a regimental cap badge, without a regimental whistle and chain, and wearing a different material cap, is improbably a random visitor in such a ‘regimental gathering’, so he’s unlikely to be other than the schoolmaster, although I agree that the absence of an ‘engineer knot’ on his shoulders seems odd (though they were removable for laundering). Even after considered reflection it’s difficult to see who else (what other appointment) he might be.

[grumpy]

To clarify:

Originally ranked as a sergeant and chosen from within the battalion (and included as such by the Rifle Corps in 1800), the schoolmaster, more highly educated and qualified than almost all the other ranks (and very possibly some of the officers) had varied fortunes during the period. An essential reference for deeper study is the doctoral thesis by Elaine Ann Smith .

In 1811 all regiments were instructed to establish a schoolmaster to improve the education of the boy soldiers, the adult soldiers and the children borne on the strength. In 1846 two Royal Warrants formalised the instruction of sergeant schoolmasters, created the Corps of Army Schoolmasters, raised their pay to 2/6 and allowed an extra 6d for ‘efficiency and good conduct’.
Once the Corps was created they were essentially attached, not 'of'.

A warrant of 1854 further improved their status, indeed the most senior were junior only to commissioned officers, warranted, and thus senior to the sergeant major for a short period. They were not allowed executive command and did not go on active service although they did work with battalions or garrisons and cantonments all over the expanding empire.

1878 schoolmasters were posted to locations not units. (RACD).

Thereafter they do not appear in any of the Peace or War battalion establishments I have in hand.

In unit portraits they are the most frequent absentees if any.