Sue Cook presents the series that examines listeners' historical queries, exploring avenues of research and uncovering mysteries.
Veteran soldiers in the British Army against NapoleonÌýÌý
Listener's query
"Even though Dad's Army veterans tend to be associated with the Home Guard in the Second World War, doesn't the use of veterans stretch back for centuries?"
Brief summary
Napoleonic military historian John White explains: When men enlisted in the army during the Napoleonic wars, they would know they were in for a long haul. Before 1806, enlistment was for life: it was ended only by being killed or by being so broken and worn out that the soldier became a Chelsea Pensioner, either at the Royal Hospital or as an out-pensioner living at home. Enlisted men and men receiving a pension were effectively owned by the army and could be called back to serve in the army when required. Age was not a factor. As long as men were able, they could be called to serve their country – and the listener's ancestor, Edward Trampleasure, was serving at the age of 70.
Between 1804 and 1820, 13 royal garrison battalions were raised, taking into service army pensioners and invalids. They were renamed Royal Veteran Battalions in 1804. These battalions worked in depots and stores doing mainly administration and support work, which enabled the more able-bodied soldiers to do the fighting. These veteran battalions were disbanded and re-formed right up until the 1820s.
The 2nd Royal Veteran Battalion, to which Edward Trampleasure belonged, was first formed in 1802 and was disbanded and re-formed eight times in different parts of the country. This regiment, like many others -Ìýbut unlike the Home Guard - served overseas. In 1809 the 2nd Royal Battalion served in Madeira. Other veteran battalions served in Canada, Spain, Portugal and in Ostend in the Waterloo campaign.
Expert consulted
John White, military historian
Further reading
Andrew Uffindell, The National Army Museum Book of Wellington's Armies: Britain's Triumphant Campaigns in the Peninsula and at Waterloo 1808-1815 (Sidgwick & Jackson, 2003)
Philip Haythornthwaite, The Armies of Wellington (Cassell Military, 1994)
David Chandler and Ian Beckett (editors), The Oxford Illustrated History of the British Army (Oxford University Press, 1994)
Further information
National Army Museum
Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London SW3 4HT
Email: info@national-army-museum.ac.uk
Tel: 020 7730 0717
Website:
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Vanessa has presentedÌýscience and current affairs programmes for ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Discovery and has presented for ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 4 & Five Live and a regular contributor to the Daily Telegraph and the Mail on Sunday, Scotsman and Sunday Herald.Ìý
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Vanessa has presentedÌýscience and current affairs programmes for ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Discovery and has presented for ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 4 & Five Live and a regular contributor to the Daily Telegraph and the Mail on Sunday, Scotsman and Sunday Herald.Ìý