Army Childhood: British Army Children’s Lives and Times

By Clare Gibson

An army childhood is a peripatetic childhood. Beginning with the establishment of Britain's standing army, Clare Gibson sheds light on such crucial aspects of the army-child experience as the places that they have called home and how they have been transported, housed, educated and entertained while in the army's care. This informative and evocatively illustrated book will appeal to those interested in British military history's social side, and to those seeking to understand what life was like for an erstwhile army-child ancestor. It is also essential reading for those who were once themselves 'barrack rats', 'pads brats' or 'army brats', for whom it is sure to arouse nostalgic memories.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
• Release date: Jul 20, 2012
• ISBN: 9781782001102

Clare Gibson

Clare Gibson studied modern and medieval history at King's College, London and works as a writer, translator and editor. She specialises in symbolism, art history and genealogy. She has previously written four other books on signs, symbols and icons.

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THE ARMY CHILD EXPERIENCE

ARMY CHILDREN no longer literally ‘follow the drum’, as some did, for example, during the Peninsular War, trudging behind columns of soldiers on the march, but typically still spend much of their childhood on the move as they accompany a military parent from posting to posting with their families. Siblings may consequently not only have different birthplaces, then as now, but may even be born in different countries, even though the geographical scope of accompanied postings has shrunk significantly in comparison to previous centuries, reflecting Britain’s reduced role on the world stage.

Similarly, although the modes of transport and types of accommodation experienced by army children have changed for the better over time, mirroring advances made by society as a whole, the army generally continues to have a hand in ferrying its soldiers’ dependants from posting to posting, and in providing them with accommodation on their arrival. And while some army families perpetuate the long tradition of sending their children to boarding schools in the hope of minimising the disruption to their education caused by frequent moves, others opt for day schools, these being either civilian schools or the service schools whose evolution can be traced back to the regimental schools established during the nineteenth century.

Army children are no different from anyone else in benefiting from the fruits of progress: new technology has made it far easier than in the past to keep in touch with friends and family when posted away, for instance. And being first and foremost children, army children have much in common with their peers of all backgrounds and nationalities. Nevertheless, it is often not appreciated that the sons and daughters of serving soldiers grow up with a foot in both civilian and army camps, nor are the full implications – ranging from the obvious to the subtle – of an upbringing linked to the military way of life fully understood.

An army childhood therefore remains an unconventional childhood, as those who experienced it themselves can testify, particularly with the benefit of hindsight. But what, exactly, makes the army child experience so remarkable? That is what this book seeks to explain.

Two young army children photographed with their parents in Kent in the early years of the twentieth century. Details of their soldier father’s uniform and medals suggest that he is a drum major who saw action on the Gold Coast.

CHILDREN OF THE REGIMENT

SOME MAINTAIN that the British Army was established in 1689, when the standing army that we recognise today was created; others, that it came into being in 1707, with the Act of Union that united England (and Wales) with Scotland. A mere eighteen years separates the two dates on which it is claimed that the status of Britain’s professional soldiers – then, but no longer, exclusively men – was regularised, but it makes little difference to the history of army children. For while the foundation of its standing army may have put the position of Britain’s soldiers on a more secure footing, it did little for their families. Indeed, it was not until the nineteenth century that the military authorities began officially to assume some sort of responsibility for their soldiers’ spouses and children.

Like most large organisations, the British Army is underpinned by a rigid social hierarchy. Its members are categorised by military rank, the expectation being that, after joining up, soldiers will gradually be promoted to higher ranks (although demotion is possible, too). Ranks’ names have varied over time, but, broadly speaking, field marshals stand at the apex of the military pyramid, supported, in descending tiers, by generals, lieutenant generals, major generals, brigadiers, colonels, lieutenant colonels, majors, captains, lieutenants and second lieutenants – these make up the commissioned ‘officer ranks’. Below the commissioned officers come the ‘other ranks’, starting with the warrant officers, comprising warrant officers class 1, or WO1s (also known as regimental sergeant majors), and warrant officers class 2, or WO2s (these being company or squadron sergeant majors). And, finally, the bottom section of the military pyramid consists of non-commissioned officers, or NCOs, senior NCOs being staff or colour sergeants and sergeants, and junior NCOs being corporals and lance corporals. Privates rank the lowest in the British Army.

Although there are still marked distinctions in status and pay between commissioned officers, warrant officers and non-commissioned officers, these dividing lines were far more