Figure 1.--Boys continued to serve in British military units as late as the 1890s. This Drum Corps was photographed in the 1880s by William Lawrence. Notice the checerboard motif on the caps. This may be a Scottish regiment.

Boys were still recruited by British military units at the turn of the 20th Century. Boys had always been recruited for military service and this comtinued to be the case in Ebgland through the 1890s. Life was still hard for the majority of the population througout the 19th century. Most Britons still lived in the country side where they had to work lng hours for very poor pay. In the growing cities, factory and mine work was the lot ofvthe barely literate working class. The militarywith all of its rigors was appealing for working class boys. It offered regularvhours and pay and a chance for trael and adventure.

The Royal Navy

HBC has only limited information on the Royal Navy at this time. The powder boys that served on war ships into the early 19th century are well known. They helped service the guns aboard Nelson's fleet. More affluent boys preparing to be officers, began service as ensigns, beginning their service at relatively younf ages as late as World War I (1914-18).

The Army

British Army battalions generally had a few boys. Some of the boys learned to play a musical instrument and marched with the band. Others worked asaprentices under skilled tradsmen to learn trade important to the unit. Trades such as cobbler and tailor were examples. The Pioner Seargent might also use a few boys. He had a section of men responsible for all the building repairs, such as the barracks. Thy had to be familiar with bricklaying, plumbing, carpentry, and other trades. Most of the boys by the late 19th century served in the Drum Corps. The Army after stopping the enlistment of boys in 19??, developed various youth progrmas such as the cadets and the Boys' Regiment.

Created: January 23, 2000
Last updated: 11:19 PM 1/2/2008