Victorian Era Uniform Identification

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by TMHagin

Let me begin by thanking all of you for sharing your knowledge. You have provided many valuable clues in my research.

Additional information has come to light regarding the pictured soldier.

I have obtained the U.S. naturalization records that show he immigrated to the United States in 1892. This same record also lists his birth date as 1865, which could expand the window in which he served.

Based on the previous birth date, the following record was uncovered in the The National Archives (another search is being made with the expanded birth date):

Thomas Smith age 17y 7m attested 30 Apr 1889 [No. 1336] born Christ Church, Liverpool. Address 19 Mould Street Liverpool. Occupation labourer. 5ft 4 7/8 ins, sallow complexion, dark blue eyes, dark brown hair, scar right upper lip. 4th Battn. Private

Questions this record raises:

1. Would the 4th Battalion Volunteers have uniforms this elaborate for a Private?
2. Would a Private carry (or have been photographed with) a swagger stick?
3. (Knowing he immigrated in 1892) Could he have served for only three years?

1. After the 'Cardwell' (secretary of state for war) reforms of 1881 both the 3rd and 4th Battalion were Militia Battalions embodied (intermittently, when danger loomed) for Home Defence. They supplemented the two Regular Battalions (1st and 2nd) who garrisoned the empire and fought any wars overseas, whilst the 'Volunteer' Battalions (1st VB to 7th VB) were part-time soldiers, also geared towards Home Defence only. After 1881 the uniforms worn by Militia Battalions were essentially the same as the Regulars. Volunteer Battalions (VB) had an Austrian knot on their sleeves so your man (if the right one) must be a Militia man, as he does not have such a knot and this fits with his attestation in the 4th Battalion.

2. Carrying a swagger cane (or stick) was an official order of dress for ORs known as 'walking out dress'. It was encouraged after 1881 especially to make the soldiers feel better about themselves as part of a shift in emphasis and a number of other measures intended to enhance their standing in society.

3. After 1881 it was possible as a Regular to serve just 3 years with the Colours, but this was felt to be too short and was later changed to 5 years with the colours and 7 years with the reserve. As a Militia soldier this would not have applied and he could give a much shorter notice to leave at any time.

THE MILITIA

The Militia was a voluntary county-based part-time force for home defence that was revived in 1757, when the Militia Act established militia regiments in all counties of England and Wales. Following the Cardwell reforms of 1881, the Army was reorganized and, amongst other changes, Militia regiments were attached to units of the regular Army. The Militia was a reserve force and was only liable for service in the United Kingdom and in peace time assembled for a period of annual training. The initial engagement of 6-years required 6-months only of full time service and after that only an annual camp of 4 weeks. From 1854, the Militia was raised solely by voluntary enlistment and the old ballot system was finally abandoned.

The Militia were said to differ from the regular soldiers in that they did not serve continuously for terms of years, and from Volunteers, in that they served only in War or underwent their military training in peacetime, by legal compulsion. Men would volunteer and undertake basic training for several months at an army depot. Thereafter, they would return to civilian life, but report for regular periods of military training (usually on the weapons ranges) and an annual four week training camp. In return, they would receive military pay and a financial retainer (4d per day after 1881), a useful addition to their civilian wage. Of course, many saw the annual camp as the equivalent of a paid holiday. The militia thus appealed to agricultural labourers, colliers and the like, men in casual occupations, who could leave their civilian job and pick it up again.

In 1871 an important constitutional change was made. It was part of the new army system inaugurated in that year that the control of the militia should be removed from the lord-lieutenant of the county and vested wholly in the Crown. Various amendments and new enactments followed, all in the direction of increasing the usefulness of the militia, rendering it more efficient and readier for service, though at the same time making it more and more a means for supplying recruits, both officers and men, to the regular army. The officers, who were commissioned by the Crown, were in 1877 made subject at all times to military law. Non-commissioned officers and men were only so subject when embodied or out for training, with extension in the case of men convicted of offences committed during training until the expiration of the punishment.' Enlistment was voluntary, but compulsory service by ballot remained. This, though here mentioned as part of a process of " regularizing " the militia, was in fact a reform that was advisable under any conditions.

As mentioned previously the period of engagement was for six years, with re-engagements for periods of four years up to the age of 45 being permitted. Bounties were paid to militiamen at various rates upon enlistment, conclusion of training, re-engagement, enlistment into reserve or special service section,;and other special circumstances. Recruit training, maximum six months, as a rule did not exceed three months. Recruits were either drilled immediately upon enlistment at any time of the year, which became the most usual system, or else at preliminary drills (first instituted in 1860), immediately preceding the annual training of the corps.

The annual training varied with the different branches of the service. The usual term for infantry was 27 days, but when on manoeuvres this was generally extended to 34 days, 56 days being the legal maximum. Artillery and fortress engineers trained for 41 days and submarine mining engineers for 55 days. Training took place for the most part in camp or barracks, and large numbers of militia battalions were latterly called on to take part in field manoeuvres. The militia depots occupied as a rule the same barracks, and officers and men wore (with distinctions mentioned previously) the same uniform as the regulars. The militia occupied an important position in the mobilization scheme for national defence. The permanent staff (adjutant, quartermaster, and an establishment of senior non-commissioned officers and buglers or drummers, all regulars) was engaged during the non-training period of the year in recruiting, care of arms, clothing etc, and in drilling recruits.

Until 1861 the militia were an entirely infantry force, but in that year a number of county regiments were converted to artillery. In 1877 the militia of Anglesey and Monmouthshire were converted to engineers.

Under the reforms introduced by Secretary of State for War Hugh Childers in 1881, the remaining militia infantry regiments were redesignated as numbered battalions of regiments of the line, ranking after the two regular battalions. Typically, an English, Welsh or Scottish regiment would have two militia battalions (the 3rd and 4th) and Irish regiments three (numbered 3rd - 5th).

Prior to 1881 the 4th Battalion King's Regt were titled differently as: 2nd Battalion, 2nd Royal Lancashire Militia (The Duke of Lancaster's Own). The 3rd Battalion King's Regt being previously the 1st Battalion of that same unit.

NB: Use these two links to 'research' further information about his time with the Militia:

1. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/d...-1757-1914.pdf

2. http://www.britishorigins.com/help/aboutbo-militia.aspx

And this link for the history of the Lancashire Militia: http://lancashiremilitia.co.uk/artic...p?article_id=1

The militia reserve consisted of men selected from the ranks of the militia for special enlistment for service in the regular army when called upon in emergencies, in the following proportions to the establishments of the various corps: Artillery, one-third; engineers and infantry, one-fourth; medical staff corps, one-half. The militia reserve was first formed in 1867, and in 1900 numbered 30,000 men. During an emergency in 1878, 20,000 militia reservists joined the regular army. The term " militia " reserve was therefore a complete misnomer, and the force so called was purely an army reserve.

When serge "frocks" were established as the undress tunic for the Infantry, in lieu of the old shell jackets, the issue of full dress tunics to the Militia rank and file ceased and the simpler scarlet "frocks" were the standard wear for all occasions. The general issue of dress headdress was similarly discontinued for the Militia and the Glengarry was always worn. Officers, however, did wear shakos in Review Order and when they were in the field brigaded with the Line. In some Militia units shakos (and later helmets) for the NCOs and men were kept, usually out of regimental funds, and were worn for ceremonial and gala occasions.

In May 1872, a War Office Circular directed that, in future, the Militia and Volunteers were to be generally styled “The Auxiliary Forces”. In November 1873, the period of service in the Militia and Reserve was extended by War Office Circulars from 5 to 6 years and thereafter annually for one month's camp.

[REMEVMBEA1]

My first thought on the collar was Royal Sussex because of what looks like a feather at the top.

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by REMEVMBEA1

My first thought on the collar was Royal Sussex because of what looks like a feather at the top.

It was just a shadow on the top of the Lancastrian Rose that was the collar badge of the Militia Battalion and associated with their old title prior to becoming the 4th Battalion King's. Prior to 1881 the Regular battalions had been wearing the white horse of the old 8th Foot, but together with many other regiments they began to wear some insignia that emphasised their newly formalised geographic associations and in many cases this was done by adopting elements of the old Militia and VB badges.