Barrack Room: Kit Inspection

[Peter]

This image is from the cover of Military Identities: The Regimental System, The British Army, and the British People, c.1870-2000, David French, OUP, 2005:

The barrack room. Inspection of kits

The barrack room. Inspection of kits.JPG (24.29 KiB) Viewed 1952 times

Every library copy I've looked at is missing its dust jacket.

Anyone know its provenance: title, artist, year?

(Pursuant to viewtopic.php?f=19&t=6297, note the Bed / Duty Plates)

Thanks

[Maureene]

Hi

Here is another image:

"Ready For Inspection:A Soldiers Kit Laid Out"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/northampto ... 5077907120

from a collection of photographs of the 1st Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment , stationed in the Punjab 1907/1908
http://www.flickr.com/photos/northampto ... 077907120/

The above are taken from the FIBIS Fibiwiki page 48th Regiment of Foot.
http://wiki.fibis.org/index.php?title=4 ... nt_of_Foot

Cheers
Maureen

[FROGSMILE]

This image is from the cover of Military Identities: The Regimental System, The British Army, and the British People, c.1870-2000, David French, OUP, 2005:

The attachment The barrack room. Inspection of kits.JPG is no longer available

Every library copy I've looked at is missing its dust jacket.

Anyone know its provenance: title, artist, year?

(Pursuant to viewtopic.php?f=19&t=6297, note the Bed / Duty Plates)

Thanks

Peter the tunics being worn were replaced in 1902 and those appear to be Martini Henrys racked on the wall so I imagine the date to be around 1885 (ish).

The round objects in the centre of the bed roll (see No 6 below) are bed plates bearing the mans name and number.

It's interesting to see that even though it is many decades later the uppermost picture below still shows essentially the same layout.

[Peter]

Maureen and Frogsmile,

Thank you for the additional information.

In case I’ve confused you both … and others: I’m trying to identify the painter and title of the painting on French’s dust jacket.

Frogsmile,

Given you’ve opened the barrack room door, I’ll step right through. As you know, my predominant nineteenth century interest is the RA. All the kit inspection images I’ve seen are Infantry, either like French’s and your first image or a barrack room panorama a la engravings in the ILN.

Were RA barrack inspections the same as these “standard” Infantry ones? Do you have any RA barrack inspection images in your proverbial kit bag?

Regards,

[FROGSMILE]

Maureen and Frogsmile,

Thank you for the additional information.

In case I’ve confused you both … and others: I’m trying to identify the painter and title of the painting on French’s dust jacket.

Frogsmile,

Given you’ve opened the barrack room door, I’ll step right through. As you know, my predominant nineteenth century interest is the RA. All the kit inspection images I’ve seen are Infantry, either like French’s and your first image or a barrack room panorama a la engravings in the ILN.

Were RA barrack inspections the same as these “standard” Infantry ones? Do you have any RA barrack inspection images in your proverbial kit bag?

Regards,

Peter, I am sorry for the delay in answering your query. The bed layouts were generic and used by all arms with small tweaks at local level to cater for any special-to-arm idiosyncrasies. I am afraid I do not have any images of specific RA bed layouts.

[Peter]

Thanks Frogsmile.

Regards,

[grumpy]

Stunningly good photo, Mr F.

This experienced soldier c. 1906 has two Good Conduct badges [minimum 5 years service therefore], is a marksman, next badge up is the small S in wreath in worsted, the unique Indian issue for Scouts .......... and a qualified signaller. There appears something above the crossed flags but cannot make it out.

Interesting to me because his Indian KD frock is the improved pattern with turn-down collar, which became current around 1906, the Brodrick cap which was going out of use at that date, and the Wolseley helmet which was replacing the Colonial pattern, again around that date.

Something about a cusp of history!

[FROGSMILE]

Stunningly good photo, Mr F.

This experienced soldier c. 1906 has two Good Conduct badges [minimum 5 years service therefore], is a marksman, next badge up is the small S in wreath in worsted, the unique Indian issue for Scouts .......... and a qualified signaller. There appears something above the crossed flags but cannot make it out.

Interesting to me because his Indian KD frock is the improved pattern with turn-down collar, which became current around 1906, the Brodrick cap which was going out of use at that date, and the Wolseley helmet which was replacing the Colonial pattern, again around that date.

Something about a cusp of history!

Yes it is an evocative photo I agree. The internet has been wonderful in making such images widely available.

I like the enclosed image of a bedspace because it shows two elements that were still present during my service (albeit modified). First is the 'Top Kit' of items stacked and folded neatly atop his shelf, including buff (later web) equipment and the second is the 'Soldier Box', or sometimes called 'Foot Locker' (in this case it is to one side), which was for a long time the only lockable container (via a padlock through the hasp) and in which personal and precious items were kept.

You can see a Lee Metford in the bed head rack and on his top shelf is the Home Service Helmet in its oilskin container. On the other side is his mess tin set topped by two ammunition pouches. This is a Home Service bed space and different from India.

Note the folding cot that was usually tucked back during the day so as to facilitate a gangway down the centre of the barrack room.

[Special Artist]

The original picture is from Life In the Army At Home and Abroad by R. Simkin and WW (William Whitelocke) Lloyd, who served in the 24th Regt. The book is really two books in one, Life in the Army by Simkin, and On Active Service by Lloyd, published about 1890. Lloyd also produced Sketches of Indian Life, and a book of sketches aboard P&O ships. The military ones are perhaps the most beautifully illustrated Victorian books I have come across - well worth hunting out - no text, just lots of stunning full colour military sketches. He was also the subject of David Rattray's book A Soldier Artist in Zululand, covering his Zulu War sketches. The barrack scene is Simkin. I'm new to the forum, but if I can work out how to do it, I could post some of the pictures.
Regards

[tabony]

The more pictures the better for me. I'm trying to make one of the folding beds (in miniature). The best I can work out so far is that the bottom (feet and legs) section slides under the top (body and head section, rather that actualy folding, one over the other. Has anyone had access to a surviving example? I worked out all of the measurements of a barracks table and bench from the metal parts of a bench that were in a friends, neighbours garden. So I 'm never surprised where these things end up!

Martin

[Peter]

Great stuff, Special Artist. Thanks.

Regards,

[FROGSMILE]

The more pictures the better for me. I'm trying to make one of the folding beds (in miniature). The best I can work out so far is that the bottom (feet and legs) section slides under the top (body and head section, rather that actualy folding, one over the other. Has anyone had access to a surviving example? I worked out all of the measurements of a barracks table and bench from the metal parts of a bench that were in a friends, neighbours garden. So I 'm never surprised where these things end up!

Martin

Martin, given what you are attempting, I cannot recommend enough a visit to the small Army museum at Aldershot. It is located in one of the surviving single-storey (i.e. like a bungalow) barrack blocks and includes a standard barrack room and bedspace layout, with all the original items as per scaling and entitlement. One item is the folding bed.

Aldershot Military Museum http://www3.hants.gov.uk/aldershot-museum.htm

Queens Avenue, Aldershot
Hampshire GU11 2LG
tel 0845 603 5635 call charges

Open
Wednesday to Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday and Sunday 11am - 4pm
Closed 5 to 25 May

Admission
Adult £3.20, Child 5-15 £2.10 (under 5 free)
Senior Citizens, concessions £2.10
Family £8.40 (2 adults, 2 children)

Pre-booked groups (Min 10)
Adults £2.20
Concessions and children £1.10

Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

[tabony]

I'm going to have to get down but it's a trail from Northumberland to Hampshire. I kick my self that I didn't go while I was at Pirbright, although, Guards cap badges weren't very welcome at Aldershot!
I'll have to pursuade someone more local to take the measurements for me. Household Cavalry Reunited here I come!
Martin

[FROGSMILE]

I'm going to have to get down but it's a trail from Northumberland to Hampshire. I kick my self that I didn't go while I was at Pirbright, although, Guards cap badges weren't very welcome at Aldershot!
I'll have to pursuade someone more local to take the measurements for me. Household Cavalry Reunited here I come!
Martin

Let me know if you get stuck Martin and I will pop down at some point. The problem is that I am not much of a photographer and that is what you really need to get detailed views of the artefacts there, especially those in the barrack room vignette, which seems to answer your purposes perfectly. You could perhaps try forum member Tony Barton, who might already have some relevant details that would be of use. I know that he has a collection of useful images.

[tabony]

I believe Tony has my phone number but if you're reading this Tony.....
I don't think they would sell very well but I've been meaning to make some "daily life" figures. There's a lot of interesting photos of matress filling etc. but I always like to see more.

Martin