Britain at Work
A Pictorial Description of Our National Industries

305 Photo: Cassell & Co., Ltd, RAW MATERIAL FOR THE BRITISH ARMY : RECRUITS AT ST. GEORGE’S BARRACKS. EVERYDAY LIFE ALTHOUGH our foreign neighbours are never tired of sneering at the alleged mercenary basis of the British military system, there can be no doubt as to the latter—that is, the voluntary system—being a higher development than that of compul- sory service. It would, of course, be too much to say that the great majority of men enlist out of purely patriotic motives ; nevertheless, the very fact of their enlist- ing of their own free will confers upon the British Army a quality of spirit and tone which are of incalculable value. Concern- ing the advantages—not realised as widely as they should be—which the Army now offers as a means of employment we shall speak farther on ; meanwhile, to com- mence the description of everyday life in the Army, let it be at once stated that the training of men by short service and pass- ing them into the Reserve is the vital principle of the system. The mass of men—that is, those for the Line, Cavalry and Infantry, and the Royal Artillery—enter the Army for seven years with the colours and five in the Reserve ; or eight years with the colours and four in the Reserve, if the period of Army service expires 39 IN THE ARMY. while the man is abroad. The Foot Guards and the Royal Engineers have the option of the foregoing, or of three years’ Army and nine years’ Reserve service and an additional year of service abroad. All recruits for the Army Service Corps enter for three years’ Army and nine years’ Reserve service. In time of war or great emergency, however, all soldiers can be detained for twelve months beyond their engagement. The Army Reserve is that force to which men are transferred on the expiration of their period of service with the colours. Men serving at home may, should the exigencies of the service permit, be allowed to pass into the Reserve after five years’ service. On the other hand, re-engagement for further service with the colours is encouraged. All soldiers serving with the colours who are medically fit may re-engage to complete twenty-one years’ service : Warrant officers and sergeants after nine years’ service, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State for War; corporals, bombardiers, bandsmen, and artificers, after nine years also, by permission of the commanding officer; and all other soldiers of good character after eleven years’ service.