Victorian Military: Rising Through the Ranks :: Victorian Era

Victorian forces Rising Through the RanksThe British armed services was involved in round form of combat consecutively from 1837 to 1901. Consequently, military was a vital get down of the life of a soldier or a young military personnel looking to plug into the military profession. In order to join as an officer, a man had to buy his role. However, those who entered as common soldiers could join for free. These men, however, were seen as the lowest of the low. If a man hoped to maintain his status in the military as well as society, he must first purchase his heraldic bearing. Usually positions like colonel or captain were the first to be purchased. in that respect were two forms of colonels, each carrying their own status. The first, known today as colonel square-toed was a substantive rank from which seniority would flushtually, provided they lived long enough, elevate them to join the generals (Holves xix). The second form were colonels of regiments. They were field offi cers, known for advising their younger officers and having an interest in making profits from their position. This type of colonel usually make about sextet hundred to nine hundred pounds a year but made about four hundred more than from government granted specie for their regiments. Money habituated to regiment colonels was often used to buy tacky uniforms the rest was pocketed by the leading officer. The colonels regiment bore his pee and often carried a badge from his armorial bearings. Colonels could be promoted to lieutenant colonels, who were overly field officers. In war-time, promotions based on merit were far more common that purchase appointments, which surprises m whatever (Holves 108). After purchasing a commission as lieutenant-colonel, an officer must be promoted and could not purchase any higher positions.Generals were appointed by the monarch. They were chosen according to seniority, so seldom did generals bring forth their position based on talent. Most gene rals did not receive any more pay that a colonel and may have even been on half-pay as a retired officer. A general kept his position until death. He had a strong voice in appointments for positions in his regiments, specially his secretary and aides de camp. Dragoons were soldiers with much less respect. They maintained the name dragoon, which had belonged to members of the cavalry, was given to dragoons so that they may maintain some form of respect.William Makepeace Thackerays story Vanity Fair involves the Battle of Waterloo.