Composition

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Composition c.1700-1900

The composition of the army saw limited change in this period, despite the developments in technology.

How did the composition change between 1700-1850?

Slow growth in size of the British army.
Infantry remained the largest part:
- 75% in 1700.
- 80% by 1850.
Cavalry declined by 5%.

Uniforms

Soldiers typically wore red tunics.
This was easier to see through the smoky battlefields.

Size of the army

The British army fluctuated in size quite significantly, rising to over 250,000 in:
- 1813 (during the Napoleonic wars).
- 1855 (during the Crimean war).
- 1899 (during the Boer wars).
In peacetime, the army reduced in size significantly, as people remained fearful of a large peacetime army.

Strategy and Tactics c.1700-1900

The composition of the army saw limited change in this period, despite the developments in technology.

Tactics before 1850

Lines, columns and squares are the basis for infantry groups.
Musket fire improved, meaning the squares could fire more rapidly.
Marching improved with the introduction of rhythmic marching from 1760, meaning infantry could be moved quickly around the battlefield.

Tactics after 1850

Developments in technologies meant that armies began to ‘prepare’ for wars before they were fought.
- Steam ships - used to transport men, weapons, food and ammunition.
- Railways - purpose built railways to move supplies.
  - e.g. 1855 - 11km of track laid from port of Balaclava to Sevastopol.

Tactics after 1850 cont.

With the strength of machine guns and rifles, cavalry charges or infantry advances became very risky strategies.
- Allowed the enemy to sit and wait for the charge and then defeat with fire e.g. Charge of the Light Brigade.
- Armies were surprisingly slow to learn this, with generals continuing to send infantry straight into gunfire (seen event in WWI at the Somme).

1Medieval Warfare c.1250-1500

1.1Medieval Warfare & Society

1.1.1Weapons

1.1.2Composition

1.1.3Recruitment & Training

1.1.4Experience of Civilians

1.1.5Case Studies

1.1.6Change in Medieval Warfare

2Early Modern Warfare c.1500-1700

2.1Early Modern Warfare & Society

2.1.1Weapons

2.1.2Composition

2.1.3Recruitment & Training

2.1.4Experience of Civilians

2.1.5Case Studies

2.1.6Change in Early Modern Warfare

3Industrial Warfare c.1700-1900

3.1The Industrial Period & Warfare

3.1.1Weapons

3.1.2Composition

3.1.3Recruitment & Training

3.1.4Experience of Civilians

3.1.5Case Studies

3.1.6Change in Industrial Period Warfare

4Modern Warfare c.1900-present

4.1Modern Warfare & Society

4.1.1Weapons

4.1.2Composition

4.1.3Recruitment & Training

4.1.4Experience of Civilians

4.1.5Case Studies

4.1.6Change in Modern Warfare

5The Historic Environment

5.1London & the Second World War, 1939-45

5.1.1London: A Target

5.1.2Preparations for War

5.1.3The Blitz

5.1.4V1 & V2 Attacks

5.1.5Impact of the Blitz

5.1.6The War Effort

5.1.7The Government

5.1.8The Royal Family

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