This is great, Captain

Posted by ElaineL on August 05, 1998 at 17:18:33:

In response to Barracks, written by Captain Everett on August 04, 1998 at 22:43:53

Thanks for all the detail! I shudder to think of what life must have been like in those buildings.

The Act did, however, expressly forbid housing them in private homes (except in times of emergency).
The largest of these were located at Knightsbridge and Kennsington in London, as well as Colcester, Maidstone, Chester and Edinburgh.

So for purposes of a story, it sounds like Col. F, assuming he's in the army and it's the year 1812, would have stayed in a barracks in Town while on duty? He would not have been able to stay at his parent's London home?

Also, to really show my ignorance of England, are Knightsbridge and Kennsington names of sections of the city? Would it have looked like the kind of military bases we have in the 20th C. in the US? OR did they put up the buildings amongst other existing civilian buildings? (I'm just trying to picture this in my mind.)

] There is an interesting sidelight to the issue of barracks for the army. Their construction was opposed by the anti-military lobby within Parliament. There was also a degree of hostility from the public, and it was not always a simple matter of tax dollars. There was a fear that if the soldiers were too concentrated and too isolated, they might become disassociated from the public, and a tool of authority. This might, so the opponents argue, allow the government to establish a "bayonet dictatorship."

Thanks for this sidelight too. I had gotten the sense there was some sort of controversy, but it wasn't explained. I suppose military spending will always be contested for various reasons!

Ever grateful for the insights you share. EL

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REPLIES:

• Knightsbridge and Kensington Caroline 17:46:54 8/07/98 (1)
  • A little bit of info Lesley 01:15:27 8/08/98 (0)
• Officers' Barracks Captain Everett 19:22:05 8/05/98 (10)
  • Another question for clarification Gayle 23:17:41 8/05/98 (9)
    • More about the militia and barracks Caroline 23:20:17 8/07/98 (0)
    • More about the militia and barracks Caroline 23:19:10 8/07/98 (0)
    • Barracks, continued Captain Everett 20:27:08 8/06/98 (6)
      • Wives and camp followers Lesley 01:26:20 8/08/98 (5)
        • Army Wives Captain Everett 19:16:49 8/10/98 (3)
          • Captain, wasn't there a saying... Marie-Bernadette 09:24:44 8/11/98 (2)
            • Officers' Ladies, Sergeants' Wives & the Soldiers' Women -NFM Captain Everett 23:26:34 8/11/98 (0)
            • Sounds to me like..... Caroline 16:11:27 8/11/98 (0)
        • Try Caroline 02:17:05 8/08/98 (0)

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