PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
། ། ། ། ། །
C.O.
Reference :-
885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
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Thus showing an increase of twenty-one battalions abroad, of which the five in India, and four in New South Wales were complete battalions of ten companies each.
9 Battalions of 000 in Canada.
1 Do.
of 600 in Bermuda.
1
Du.
of 479 Mauritius.
1
Do.
of 479 Mediterranean.
1
Do
of 559 West Indies.
J
22
1 deduct from St. Helena.
21 Total increase abroad,
-
As nine of the above are complete battalions of ten companies each, and as the whole eighteen in Canada are 600 each, leaving only their skeleton depôts of 189, it follows that no part of these additional battalions abroad can be fairly put against the system of depots, but, on the contrary, that it tells all in its favour, because the whole of the 600 men are effective and trained men, whereas on the former establishment of 650 must be included recruits, and non-effective inen of every description; and which, as shown by the returns of that period did not produce abroad on an average more than 600 men. It must be also stated, that when this large force was suddenly ordered to America, it could not have been supplied but by means of these depôts, and from which no less than 1,162 men, exclusive of volunteers from other corps, were sent out, all complete soldiers, without the addition of officer, or non-commissioned officer, and can- not therefore be estimated at less than two complete regiments of infantry of ten com. panies each.
The relief afforded by these depots to the service companies abroad, consists in keeping the numbers of duty men effective, and in the interchange of officers in their turn it must be borne in mind that the services of the officers of the English army are more extended, and liable to greater vicissitudes than the men, and that conse quently they have a strong claim for as much relief as can with propriety be extended to thern.
The services of most soldiers are rarely prolonged beyond the period of twenty or twenty-five years, whereas those of the officer are continuous, and must be so, during the period if not of his natural, at least of his effective life.
If it be said that by discontinuing the system of depots, 4 more companies would thereby be added to each regiment abroad, and therefore a corresponding addition be made to the regiments at home, by withdrawing a battalion from a foreign station, the result may be thus shown.
The service companies of 5 regiments of 479 rank and file amount to 2,895, if one of these he removed there will remain 1,916, all effective men, subject only to the usual military deductions. Add to these the depots of 4 regiments, each of 260 men, 1,040, but from whose efficiency must be deducted not less than one half, as shown in the margin, when the actual number of duty men added to a garrison of 4 complete
* Duty state of Depot, 32nd Regiment, December 1. 1827.
Present and fit for duty, rank and file
103
Sick
12
Clerks
'T'ailors
5
Pioneers
5
Orderlies
2
Servants
16
Boys
Additional Buglers
Recruits
+
Drill Instructors
Schoolmaster
Lance Corporale
Recruiting
On Leave
Invalids
In confinement
Attending Hospital
112
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regiments would be 41, and no more; and to do this, every military arrangement of 19 years standing would be broken up, and the regiments be encumbered with their recruits, drilling, &c., and with the whole of their heavy baggage and every regiment at home be broken up into detachments.
To show the extent of these detachments in the United Kingdom, the accompanying
Return is annexed.
This computation is wholly based upon the working duties done by the troops, and which must be always the main point looked to, as compared with the arithmetical numbers of any Military Establishment.
Having thus stated my proof in support of the present system of service companies and depots generally, I proceed now to offer my observations upon that part of the Secretary of War's paper which has reference to my letter to Lord Glenelg, dated Ja- nuary 7th, and wherein my opinions are thus stated:
"It will no doubt be obvious to your Lordship that if the state of public affairs in British North America and of our other Foreign Possessions shall continue to require the amount of force now stationed in them, the present establishment of our depots of 199 and 180 rank and file will not be sufficient for the several purposes for which they were wisely intended," and, " in the understanding always that no early diminution is to be expected from our force abroad, particularly from North America, I would take leave to suggest that an augmentation should be made to our depots generally, and to place each upon the same Establishment of 260 rank and file.”
Repeating that recommendation, and referring to the present pressing demand for troops at home, I have only to add, that if it be the decision of Her Majesty's Govern- ment that a further augmentation to the army would be inexpedient, as attended with a very large and inconvenient expence, and also that the same number of regiments are to be kept abroad upon the same establishment of 600 rank and file, in such case the existing arrangements would require to be further considered.
The Secretary at War admitting that with a view to the efficiency of the garrisons abroad, it is undoubtedly true that there must be some description or other of depots where recruits may be trained so as to be ready to supply vacancies in the ranks abroad, proceeds to offer the following proposition to divide each regiment of infantry into ten nearly equal companies, eight of which of 690 men would form a battalion for Foreign service, while the two companies left at home of 130 rank and file, would form part of a provisional battalion to be composed of the depots of five or six regiments, and that this modification of the present system should be confined in the first instance to those regiments which have already been ordered to furnish 600 rank and file to the service companies."
There are nineteen regiments now abroad of 600 rank and file, and consequently there are nineteen depots of 130 to be dealt accordingly, and if the Government should upon consideration finally decide upon this, or any similar proposition, I shall not fail to give my best attention to carry into effect the arrangement to the best advantage for the public service.
It must be here observed that the formation of these depots into provisional battalions would not be unattended with some practical difficulty, in keeping together those of the same arm and system of discipline, and those which are usually styled national, both as regards their drill and exercise, and in the allotment of their distri- bution in quarters.
As this plan contemplates merely another Aivision of these nineteen regiments, leaving the numbers of each abroad and at home exactly as they now are, it must be obvious that no addition is made thereby to the numbers of regiments applicable for Foreign reliefs.
may add that the great advantage of the present arrangement of the service companies and depots is, that while it affords the mutual advantage of adding to, or decreasing the service companies as occasion requires, it combines also a strict adhe- rence to the regimental system throughout, so that when a draft joins the service com- panies from the depot, the men composing it are as fit to take their places in the ranks as uny already to be found there. This is of the highest importance in a military point of view, and one which though clear and evident to every military man, is not so readily understood by a civil department, where it may be supposed that if a solidier undergoes a certain degree of drill, and receives his quantam of instruction he is at once efficient. If three or four of the weaker depots are joined together, and placed under the command of the senior Major, who may be constantly changing, there is an end to the regimental system; and the recruits, however well attended to, will not join their service companies in the same efficient state as at present; and the reforming of a battalion on its return home will become a matter of as much difficulty as it now is with the regiments from India.
In conclusion, my object throughout this discussion has been to endeavour to maintain that military system, with respect to our establishments, which has prevailed during a long succession of years, and which has enabled us to meet every demand, however large and unexpected, whether from abroad or at home.
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