The Domestic Life of Tommy Atkins
by Duncan Williams
Following the excellent article uncovered by Ian Maine about the construction of Dorchester barracks in 1879 (Redan 44), I am reminded about the following article extracted from Navy and Army Illustrated. This article describes the daily life of a cavalry man, one Thomas Atkins, who whilst on home service lived his daily life in a home such as the one described so eloquently by the Dorset County Chronicle and Somerset Gazette report:
It is rather the "single men in barracks" than their brethren on the "married strength" into whose private life we propose to venture. There are two men in whose hands lies the principle administrative control of Atkins "at home"; one is the quartermaster, the other the corporal in charge of Tommy's room. Of course there are intermediate ranks and other parties concerned in looking after the soldiers welfare, but on the quartermaster and corporal the comfort, or otherwise, of the private is chiefly dependant. You will conceive the responsibility on the quartermaster's shoulders when you reflect that he has the housing, provisioning, and clothing of from 600 to 900 men in an infantry regiment, and from 400 to 800 men in a cavalry corps; and, in the latter instance, there are also some 300 to 700 horses whose stabling and forage he is responsible for. It is but a bare fact to state that this officer requires intelligence, tact, capacity for work, management, and detail that in civil life would fit him for a high administrative post, and bring him a salary far more adequate than does his military pay. The quartermaster is chosen from the ranks, and his commission is looked upon by the senior non-commission officers as a prize always within their reach. The quartermaster arranges the whole of the contracts for provisioning the regiment, and in every possible instance such are placed with local firms. He attends the stores every morning to superintend the weighing of the rations of meat and bread which constitute Government's contribution towards the support of the private soldier. He is responsible for the good quality of these provisions, and the correct allowance for each troop or company. Vegetables, groceries and the like - which the soldier himself pays for - are all bought from the regimental canteen through the Troop Mess Fund. This fund is managed by the corporals of the troop or company, and every man is put under a certain small weekly stoppage, which goes to the fund. Out of it, potatoes, groceries, beer - on special occasions - and, during winter, extra coal, are bought, and divided in proportion amongst the men. The canteen is managed by a committee of officers, and under the charge of a sergeant, who receives a commission on profits. It is worked on co-operative principles, the profit being annually divided among the troops or companies of the regiment, the divisible amounts being placed to the credit of the different messes.
On joining the headquarters or depôt of his regiment, the soldier is served with a complete outfit. Of this the principal articles are renewed at certain periods, and, with management, they may last the regulation time. But boots, for instance, are apt to wear out sooner than the authorities have calculated, and Tommy has to provide himself with new ones at his own cost. If any article of his kit be lost, stolen, or strayed, he is also obliged to replace it, and in the case of "small kit" - under-clothing, brushes etc. - it can be safely reckoned that some at least of these articles will have to be replaced annually. To make sure a full outfit is always in the possession of each man, ready for active service if necessary, kit inspections are held, on average, once a month.
Each troop has its regular cook - a man struck off all duty except night guards - and two or more troops occupy one cook-house, under the superintendence of a sergeant-cook.
Every room, which serves the dual purpose of recreation and bed room, is under the charge of a corporal, or, occasionally, in the case of a small room, the senior soldier. He is responsible for the cleanliness, order, and discipline of the inmates, and is supposed to see that the men in his charge are duly supplied with their rations, etc. The full strength of the room lend a hand in cleaning it down every morning. Once or twice a week the floor is thoroughly scrubbed down, and on Sunday white-washing and black-leading are rampant; but these duties are the special province of the orderly man. He draws the room's daily rations, and brings up the tea from the cook-house. Breakfast over, he washes up, and then assists in the general clean up of the room. He brings up dinner and tea, and after each meal is responsible for the washing of the crockery and tables. After tea he cleans his mess-tins, and the same having been inspected by the non-commissioned officer in charge of the troop, his duties practically are finished. Once a month, at least, the chief comes round the rooms at dinner-time on a Sunday, and other weeks the troop officers take a tour of inspection; and consequently the room has to be in spick and span order. The floors, forms and tables are scrubbed to the last scruple of cleanliness; grates and coal-box are black-leaded; walls are white-washed; and every bed and every kit are arranged according to regulation, and in the neatest possible order.
Beer and duff - everyone knows what duff is - are the customary Sunday luxuries, and ultra-refinement, a table cloth is forth-coming! A knock on the door an a shout of "shun." Enter the chief, adjutant, quartermaster, and troop officers. The men remain seated, the corporal in charge rising in his place at the head of the table. "All correct?" asks the colonel. "All correct, sir," replies the corporal, and exeunt staff, and vanish table cloth and other vestiges of respectability.
On Sunday afternoon every man not on duty or pleasure bent makes down his bed and goes to sleep. Loud talking or horse-play are dangerous things to attempt in troop rooms after two p.m. on a Sunday. Evenings are devoted to preparation for to-morrow or the canteen, and at 10.15 the fire is made up for the night, and at the sound of the melancholy wailing "G" that signifies "lights out", out goes the glim.
If the soldier is unwell, he reports himself "going sick" first thing after réveille to the orderly sergeant. He is bound to attend to early stables or parade; after that he is off duty, until the medical officer has seen him, at any rate. About nine the "sick call" sounds, and all men for hospital fall in at the guard-room. The sergeant of the guard marches them, along with any prisoners there may be - these latter under escort - to the hospital. There one by one they are examined by the doctor, admitted, put on light duty - out-patients, as it were - or sent back to duty, as the case may be. Any man reporting himself sick without cause is liable, on detection, to be reported at orderly-room, and his shamming, as a rule, is prescribed with a stiff dose of drill. We have now briefly followed the life of Tommy chez lui. We might treat him in hospital, at play, or keeping Christmas; but these phases of his inner life must be kept for other articles.
To expand upon some of the details mentioned in the above article, let us first examine the outfit and kit issued to Tommy Atkins: The articles supplied to Tommy came under the following categories:-
1. Personal Clothing
These are articles which after issue were struck off charge in the clothing accounts and not there-after returned to stores. This meant that if the articles should survive the life put upon them by the Government, they were to be retained for fatigues or repairs, or could be disposed of to Tommy's monetary benefit. Although no soldier was allowed to dispose of any article without the written consent of the officer commanding the company. If written consent for disposal were given, Tommy could only sell the clothing, via the quartermaster, to recognised civilian contractors, who would pay a "worn out value". As outlined in the article Personal Clothing was the responsibility of the soldier for care and maintenance; should any article be lost, or become prematurely unserviceable, by Tommy's own wilfulness or neglect it was to be replaced at Tommy's expense, unless another man was convicted for the offence! New issues of Personal Clothing were made on an annual basis either on the anniversary of Tommy's enlistment or from the 1st of April.
The items of Personal Clothing with which Tommy would be issued, were laid down in Clothing Regulations. The issued items would depend upon a mixture of the rank, regiment and location of Mr. Atkins.
2. Public Clothing
These are articles which after issue were retained on charge in the clothing accounts. Again with these items the Government placed an expected life upon each article, and Tommy, with judicious care and taking any necessary minor repairs was to see that the article lasted the required life. Commanding officers were to inspect the items (at the Sunday inspections) and see that any repairs were carried out without delay. After an article had been worn for the prescribed term, it would not necessarily be replaced at the expense of the Government. When their life was up, the articles would be examined by a "Board of Survey" for articles which could be repaired and made serviceable. If the cost of repair exceeded 3s 6d the decision for repair or disposal had to be taken by the Director of Clothing. The cost of repair for all Public Clothing was met from the public purse. Those items which were unserviceable were to be replaced and disposed of according to the rules outlined in the Clothing Regulations. Should the nourishing Army diet cause Mr. Atkins to out-grow the issued articles, he could exchange them for other articles of suitable size. Any articles which were wilfully made away with, lost, or prematurely worn out, through carelessness or neglect, would be replaced with new or part worn items, and Tommy would be placed under pay stoppages to make good the value of the unexpired period of wear using a monthly pro-rata basis from the month of issue.
As with the items of Personal Clothing, the articles of Public Clothing, which Tommy received into his care, were also laid down in Clothing Regulations.
3. Necessaries - Free Kits
The articles which were issued as Necessaries - Free Kits were initially given by the Government, thereafter the kit was to be kept up at the expense of Tommy. Tommy was not allowed to depart from the list of articles without special authority, and the only additional items which were issued with authority (on payment) were cotton socks, housewives and canvas shoes.
4. Necessaries - Sea Kits
When Tommy was requested by Her Majesty to travel to the far flung corners of the globe - which were for ever England - he would be issued with Sea Kits whilst undertaking the sea voyage. The items issued would be supplied at the expense of the public purse; with the exception of soap and tobacco, which were provided regimentally and paid out of the advance of pay.
5. Miscellaneous Supplies
If Tommy was engaged in special duties he would receive additional items of clothing - known as Miscellaneous Supplies - in which to carry out the special duties. Miscellaneous Supplies were categorised into the following types: Flannel Belts, Hospital Clothing, Prison Clothing and Necessaries, Store Chests, Watch Coats, Waterproof Clothing, Winter Clothing and Working Clothing. These articles of Miscellaneous Supplies would be dealt with in a similar way to public clothing unless they were designated as "on inventory" or "articles in use", if they were, they would be the responsibility of an officer who was to account for them. If one of these articles should become worn and unserviceable, the item would be exchanged, and the worn article brought before a "Board of Survey" to decide its final destination. Articles issued as "on inventory" or "articles in use" were also the responsibility of the officer for washing, care and maintenance. Should an article which was "on inventory" or "articles in use" be lost, or made away with, the charge of the item would be made good by the group of troops to which it was issued.
To give some examples of likely Miscellaneous Supplies which Tommy, as a gunner in a home service garrison Royal Artillery company, may possibly receive:
Waterproof Coats & Leggings: These were issued "on inventory" with 18 sets to each Western District Fort, and 20 sets to each of the Spithead Forts, additionally if Tommy was engaged at the Golden Hill range on the Isle of Wight - 12 sets were made available to the range party.
Duck Frock & Trousers: These were issued "on inventory" as a set per man, if Tommy were an Engine driver or Stoker on the Pier Turret, Dover. Sets were also available "on inventory" for soldiers engaged in cleaning & painting ordnance. Northern District had 15 sets, Western - 120, Southern - 120, South-Eastern - 80, Eastern - 20, Chatham - 30, Tower of London - 4, North Britain - 25, Jersey - 15, Guernsey - 12 and Alderney - 20. Also, sets were made available "on inventory" to soldiers under-going their annual course of drill, e.g. Portsmouth station held 280 suits for this purpose.
Sandals: If Tommy was engaged in working heavy Casemated guns, with iron mountings and stone or concrete floors, the district would make available "on inventory" Sandals for the gunner to use, e.g. Southern district held 2,504 pairs for this use.
Magazine Clothing: If Tommy was detailed to work in a Magazine or a Laboratory a magazine uniform consisting of a jacket of lasting cloth, a pair of cloth trousers and a plain blue Glengarry cap was issued as an "article on use".
Now to investigate the Barrack Room furniture, which Tommy Atkins would expect to find in his sumptuous accommodation: All furniture issued to Army accommodation was defined in the Schedules of Barrack Furniture. These schedules covered all manner of Army rooms, from a Recruits Barracks to an Officers Room, and also included miscellaneous rooms such as Tailors Shops, Meat Stores, court-martial Rooms or Coal Yards. We will look at the furniture issued to a couple of rooms which Tommy would have been familiar with:
Other Ranks Barracks
As specified in the Navy & Army extract, the Other Ranks Barracks are where Tommy would have slept, ate and lived when not on duty. For details of the rooms furnishings see Table E, this list from the schedule has been expanded with an issue quantity for a typical barrack room of 20 men as at Fort Nelson. When examining the table of contents for the room it can be seen that the articles issued to a barrack room are divided into three categories:
1 Items which, although issued to the room, were issued on a per man basis.
2 Items issued to the room in quantities which were dependant upon the total number of occupants.
3 Items issued irrespective of the number of occupants.
The contents of the room would be checked against the rooms Inventory Board during inspections by the commanding officer or one of his subordinates, any deviations from the Inventory Board would be expected to be replaced at the cost of Tommy and his room mates.
Examining the schedules it is possible to see that Tommy slept reasonably comfortably on an iron bedstead (probably either of the 'folding type' or of the 'two piece rolling type' similar to the reproductions which the PFS have recently had made), with a straw filled palliasse and straw filled bolster as a pillow (I can speak from experience that there is a definite technique to filling straw mattresses, in order to make them comfortable!), to complete Tommy's bed he had the use of two sheets and two or three army blankets. When not in use the bedding would be neatly folded and placed upon the rolled paillasse, with the whole being secured by the leather bed strap, this would then be placed against the bed head of the folded bedstead to create greater floor area within the barrack room and also to provide Tommy with a reasonably comfortable 'easy chair'.
Tommy's meals would first be drawn, as raw materials, from the Bread and Meat Stores using the 18-inch round meat dish and carried to the cookhouse for the regimental cook and his helpers to convert into an appetising meal! The meal would be supplemented with additions such as vegetables from the mess fund mentioned in the Navy & Army article. When the meal was cooked, it would be collected from the kitchen, using the meat dish for 'solids' and the soup/water can for 'liquids', and returned to the barrack-room to be distributed to Tommy and his room mates. When examining the schedules, it can be seen that Tommy only had use of an earthenware plate and an earthenware bowl from which to eat his meal, together with his 'Necessaries' of knife, fork & spoon. Therefore it must be deduced that Tommy drank his ration of tea using his earthenware bowl not a mug or a cup. Another point of interest, is the prudence of the government to ensure that Tommy and his room mates did not have the luxury of space, when eating their meals. By using the combination of 4ft. and 6ft. tables together with forms and stools it was possible to restrict the available table space to the minimum.
Ablutions Room
This is where Tommy would have washed, shaved and washed his kit and equipment. For details of the rooms furnishings see Table F, this list from the schedule has been expanded with an issue quantity for the ablutions room which exists at Fort Nelson. As Fort Nelson only had the slate bench style of sink, it can be seen that the 14-inch basins would have been used. By careful examination it is possible to confirm the use of these hand basins as below each tap position the slate has been slightly hollowed by the wearing of the metal basin against the slate bench. As in the Fort Nelson example, it can be seen from the schedules that it was not expected that ablutions rooms should be heated, whereas barrack wash-houses were.
This concludes our brief look into the domestic life of Thomas Atkins, as a gunner in a garrison company of the Royal Artillery circa 1890. A future article will examine the comfortable lifestyle which Tommy, as a married soldier, would have lived together with his wife and children at the expense of the public purse.
Sources
Navy and Army Illustrated, Volume VI - 4th. June 1898.
Revised Schedules of Barrack Furniture, &c., - 1880.
Regulations for the supply of Clothing and Necessaries to the Regular Forces - 1894.
Redan no. 46 contain the full article with tables of items issued as kit.