Life in the British Army 1899

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Tommy's

The regulary army was organised into regiments, following the Cardwell Reforms. The regiments were split into two battalions, one serving abroad and one serving at home. The majority of the soldiers came from the poorer classes of society, a large percentage from Ireland. 

As the agricultural sector dwindled more and more men signed up from urban areas where unemployment was high. The soldiers were only paid a shilling a day and weren't highly regarded in society, with a big division between officers and men. There are cases of soldiers being removed from social occasions. Many families felt ashamed of any of their sons that signed up for the army. The soldiers weren't treated well at all. 

However the food rations were good, provided by the Queen. They were given a pound of bread and 3/4 of a pound of meat aswell as rum. However the…

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