MEN behind THE RIFLES
from shoemaker to soldier, how an ordinary man became a rifleman
During the Napoleonic Wars Britain’s regular army was officially made up of volunteers. The 95th Rifles, even in its formative years, was developing a reputation as an elite regiment within the army. It recruited only the best men, often cherry-picking recruits from all walks of life and from militia regiments. Men like Edward Costello, a former shoemaker hailing from Ireland, volunteered from the Dublin City Militia, while others, like Benjamin Harris, a shepherd from Dorset, “fell so in love with their smart and dashing appearance” that nothing else would do until he became a rifleman. In early 1809, when the army was recovering from the arduous retreat to Corunna, so many men volunteered for service with the 95th Rifles that not only were the First and Second battalions brought back up to the full service strength of 1,000 men each, there were still enough recruits to form a third battalion.
Once a man had ‘taken the king’s shilling’ and arrived at his regimental depot, he would be issued with his kit, sometimes known as ‘necessaires’, and instructed how to keep himself, his equipment and the barracks clean. Though the training schedule varied from regiment to regiment, it would last anywhere from three to six months, sometimes quicker in the height of war. Recruits were first taught ‘close-order drill’ – how to stand to attention, salute, march and execute various manoeuvres. Following this, they would learn ‘arms-drill’, how to carry their weapon and of course how to load and fire it. In the 95th Rifles recruits were taught the art of being a light infantryman – how to make use of their surroundings, working in pairs, how to judge distances and of course how to take a careful and steady aim with their rifle. Regular shooting competitions were held and, along with lectures and physical exercise, their radical new training helped create a real esprit-de-corps. The 95th, along with the 43rd and 52nd, honed these skills under Sir John Moore at Shorncliffe Camp.
From 1797 the British soldier received one shilling (12 pence) per day. Between six and eight pence per day was deducted for ‘victuals’, replacement uniform items and kit (any damage or breakages were extra, deducted at full cost). A soldier had at least one hot meal a day, between 12pm and 4pm. The main meal was usually wholesome – a portion of meat and potatoes, sometimes in the form of a soup. It was normally accompanied by 0.45 kilograms (one pound) of bread with butter and/or cheese, and a substantial ration of alcohol, comprising half 0.6 litres (one pint) of rum or gin and the same of wine, or 2.3 litres (two quarts) of beer or ale daily.
“THE 95TH RIFLES, EVEN IN ITS FORMATIVE YEARS, WAS DEVELOPING A REPUTATION AS AN ELITE REGIMENT WITHIN THE ARMY”