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Subject: Re: [India-L] British Army Officer - E. A. Green
Date: Fri, 2 Jul 2004 00:49:45 EDT
Dear Stewart,
- from Richard Holmes "Redcoat - the British Soldier in the Age of Horse &
musket" (Fabulous book!!)
'The importance of seniority as far as regimental promotion was concerned
was critical. But while seniority could only be earned, it was possible for long
or distinguished service to bring an officer a promotion by brevet, which
did not alter his regimental rank or seniority date, but gave him a new rank
and seniority in the army as a whole. Brevet Promotion was available only to an
officer who was already a captain, and could not take him beyond lieutenant
colonel. An officer with brevet rank did duty in his regimental rank unless
circumstances arose when the senior officer by army rank was required, say, to
take command of a brigade. This would make an officer with brevet rank
briefly the superior of his own regimental commanding officer. ....... Brevet rank
gave only a little extra pay- and then not in all arms- but it did put an
officer in a strong position to claim promotion by patronage in a regiment
other than his own Most brevets were given for long service, and there were
sucessive victory brevets given from May 1811 to Waterloo, when the brevet
promoted fifty-two majors and thirty-seven captains. Tradition prescribed that the
aide-de-camp bearing a victory dispatch received a brevet, although only if
this did not breach promotion regulations.'
The artillery company with its attached drivers was known as a brigade. In
1808 a brigade of foot artillery, whose men marched on foot , had an
establishment of two captains, two 1st lieutenants, one 2nd lieutenant, four
sergeants, four corporals, nine bombardiers, three drummers and 116 gunners.. In 1793
horse artillery was formed to provide fast, mobile artillery support for
cavalry. All officers and men rode horses or the unit's vehicles. Horse artillery
brigades were styled troops .....................' Capt. Mercer (Waterloo -"
...a troop of horse artillery was the completest thing in the army; and
whether broken up into half-brigades under the first and second captains or into
divisions under their lieutenants, or sub-divisions under their sergeants and
corporals, each body was a perfect whole."
'There was no consistant policy for the leadership of brigades. They might
be commanded by the senior commanding officer of the battalions which comprised
them...they might be commanded by a brigadier or indeed by a major general.'
'In batallion headquarters were the lieutenant colonel and two majors, each
of whom might command half the battalion if it was divided into two "wings".
Hope this helps-
Mary Margaret
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