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Date	Original Topic
24th February 2004	Training of British Soldiers By Lukas Sorry for asking so many questions! I was wondering how the british soldiers were trained in this time. Did they have some training camps or was it more like in the american civil war, learning by doing? Who did train them? The officers or the sergeant. Thank you for this information. Regards
Date	Replies
24th February 2004	Martin Everett Dear Lukas, On enlistment most of the soldiers did a course of basic training at the 24th Regiment Depot - which was at Brecon from 1873. The the soldier was then posted to his allocated battalion. Usually the battalion serving overseas had priority. Prior to that date the Training Company would have based at any town in the UK, say Sheffield. The Sergeants and Corporals would have done the training - as they still do today. I cannot immediately tell you the length of the recruit training but likely to 10-15 weeks. However, often if recruits where needed for a draft to be sent overseas the length may been curtailed. Also the recruit may have had previous service in the militia which may have been taken into account for a shorter course. You might find it useful to read - The British Infantryman in South Africa by 1877-1881 by Ian Castle - available from the on-line shop.
24th February 2004	Lukas Martin thank you for the information. What you wrote, remember me to my military time! I have to go next summer to train some soldiers again. Thank you Lukas
24th February 2004	Lukas Martin thank you for the information. What you wrote, remember me to my military time! I have to go next summer to train some soldiers again. Thank you Lukas
25th February 2004	Adrian Whiting Lukas, Just to add to Martin's comments above. In the 1870s - 1880s recruits were trained at their depots for two and a half months before proceeding to their allocated battalion. It was intended that this would be the battalion serving at home, but of course this was not always so. The recruit training was to a drill standard to allow the recruit to complete his training, including musketry, with his allocated company within the battalion. Each company was allotted a month between March and October inclusive (there being eight compnaies to the battalion) for the sole purpose of training as a company. During this time they were excused other duties. Drills and parades still featured as a daily practice for every soldier, even when not allocated to a training month. Each Spring the entire battalion would engage in "Spring drills" in which all soldiers were taken right back to the basic foot drill movements, and all training was rehearsed again. I hope this assists Adrian
26th February 2004	Lukas Thank you Adrian for your help! Very intersting! This will help alot! Greetings from Switzerland Lukas