Armies on the Move
Spring 1854. It was a time for brass bands, cheering crowds and civic speeches of farewell as throughout Britain and France, regiments left their barracks heading for their ports of embarkation.
Cheer Boys Cheer
No more of idle sorrow
Courage, true hearts, shall bear us on our way
Hope points before and shows the bright tomorrow
Let us forget the darkness of today.
Henry Russell's popular song was to become the British marching song of the War, akin to 'Goodbye Dolly Gray' of the Boer War and 'Tipperary' and for the French, 'La Madelon' in World War 1.
Indeed it was not too difficult for the bachelor boys to cheer, full of eager anticipation and excitement at the prospect of swapping dreary barrack routine for a sea voyage in a fresh unfamiliar environment. But there were also goodbyes to be said to loved ones, particularly painful for most of the British married soldiers and for all the French ones. The British cut the customary allocation of wives permitted to travel from six to four per hundred men. Selection was by two ballots - the first selected six, and the second, four from the six. The two unsuccesful in the second ballot were granted half rations at home for the duration of their husband's absence (or his life). This was an important concession, as no provision was made for the mass of other wives left behind. They faced destitution, in particular where wives were from the colonies and had no parish of birth to fall back on. Amid the general euphoria prevailing around the outbreak of war their plight was publicised and created public outcry. Local charities were set up on independent initiatives, and these were soon consolidated under the 'Central Association for the Wives and Families of Soldiers Ordered to the East' with Queen Victoria as Patron. But given that the abrupt departure of 25.000 soldiers had instantly deprived a multitude of families of all means of support, the aid to individuals could only be minimal.
In spite of such severe restrictions on family numbers, the troopships' manifests make strange reading to modern eyes. On the 'Golden Fleece' sailing with the 4th Foot from Leith were 37 officers, several ladies, 917 rank & file, 54 women and 75 children. The 'Himalaya' collected 931 All Ranks of the 93rd Highlanders from Plymouth together with 54 women and near 100 children. Pity the crusty old batchelors on that particular vessel!
The voyage to Malta took around ten days at best, over a month at worst. It was a lottery depending on the size and type of transport; in view of the huge task, the bottom of the barrel had to be scraped. But as usual when one Service is in the care of another, traditional rivalries between the Army and Royal Navy were suspended. Besides, the food on board was of a much higher standard than in barracks - fresh beef, fresh bread, 'plum' duff (though much more duff than plum), pea soup every other day, and to wash it down, half a gill of rum to two of water served daily. There was the novelty of sleeping in hammocks, which the seamen slung for them - 18 inches per man instead of the standard man o'war allowance of 14, but still very cramped.
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