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Of drummers and other things
Nov. 17th, 2023 10:13 pmNot just for drummers but the army of the time, the hair habits and other things, from the book:
The very thing , the memoirs of the drummer Bentinck, Royal Welch fusiliers, 1807 - 1823
Page 5:
… every man had to use at least half a pound of flour a week to powder his hair with, making it look like an unbaked cake clapped upon his head and clapped carefully down upon his face. But this was not all. The curling irons had to be used with great exactitude to make two or three little curls, like those on a drake’s tail, on each temple, and woe betide the unlucky fellow who appeared on parade with one of these a shade out of twist.
Then a tail of horsehair had to be fitted to the back of the head, bound up with a bit of leather shining like a mirror with ‘heel ball’ and tied, every hair in its place with string or wire. Those who could not manage this intricate business and who came in for the punishment drill rigorously imposed for any real or imaginary defect in his work (and there were many) paid sixpence a week to any dexterous comrade who would do it for them…
To continue in relation to the queue:
…The hair on top was cropped short and the queue or clubbed pigtail, some 7 inches long, doubled over upon itself with the end hidden and bound with a ribbon. It was then held together by candle tallow or hog’s lard, kept of the collar by a piece of cloth worn under it…
The part with the curls is mentioned as the practice that was abolished in 1795. The queues were done away with in 1808. From then on hair was to be cut close to the necks and frequently washed. Of course despite the troublesome queues, the officers and even the men, were not in favour of this change.
—-
Onwards to the comforts of travelling as soldiers on ships, these were travelling towards the Danish coast:
Page 10:
…The policy was then to cram as many soldiers and horses into a ship as she would hold, comfort being too ridiculous a thing to be thought of, and the horse being much more considerately tended than the men…
—-
Of a somewhat embarrassing incident at the otherwise rather uneventful landing and why you might need to watch your bayonet and your feet:
Page 12:
…The battalion landed in good style, with the colours uncased and flying in the wind. The only mishap was the unfortunate wounding of a company commander by a Fusilier who tripped with his fixed bayonet…
—-
Now, a drummer is not simply one who beats the drum, but seems to stand on duty too at times or it might be that Benty had been a private at this time and no longer a drummer? All in all he was at his post and also left his post to get some precious fruit in the nearby garden. This incident is described on page 14. What is funny is that, while Bentinck seems to abandon his post to do no good and fill his pockets with fresh fruit, he happens upon a rifle with the bayonet fitted, belonging to the enemy who was doing similar, takes it, also finds the Danish soldier and takes him prisoner.
———
Enough for now.
The very thing , the memoirs of the drummer Bentinck, Royal Welch fusiliers, 1807 - 1823
Page 5:
… every man had to use at least half a pound of flour a week to powder his hair with, making it look like an unbaked cake clapped upon his head and clapped carefully down upon his face. But this was not all. The curling irons had to be used with great exactitude to make two or three little curls, like those on a drake’s tail, on each temple, and woe betide the unlucky fellow who appeared on parade with one of these a shade out of twist.
Then a tail of horsehair had to be fitted to the back of the head, bound up with a bit of leather shining like a mirror with ‘heel ball’ and tied, every hair in its place with string or wire. Those who could not manage this intricate business and who came in for the punishment drill rigorously imposed for any real or imaginary defect in his work (and there were many) paid sixpence a week to any dexterous comrade who would do it for them…
To continue in relation to the queue:
…The hair on top was cropped short and the queue or clubbed pigtail, some 7 inches long, doubled over upon itself with the end hidden and bound with a ribbon. It was then held together by candle tallow or hog’s lard, kept of the collar by a piece of cloth worn under it…
The part with the curls is mentioned as the practice that was abolished in 1795. The queues were done away with in 1808. From then on hair was to be cut close to the necks and frequently washed. Of course despite the troublesome queues, the officers and even the men, were not in favour of this change.
—-
Onwards to the comforts of travelling as soldiers on ships, these were travelling towards the Danish coast:
Page 10:
…The policy was then to cram as many soldiers and horses into a ship as she would hold, comfort being too ridiculous a thing to be thought of, and the horse being much more considerately tended than the men…
—-
Of a somewhat embarrassing incident at the otherwise rather uneventful landing and why you might need to watch your bayonet and your feet:
Page 12:
…The battalion landed in good style, with the colours uncased and flying in the wind. The only mishap was the unfortunate wounding of a company commander by a Fusilier who tripped with his fixed bayonet…
—-
Now, a drummer is not simply one who beats the drum, but seems to stand on duty too at times or it might be that Benty had been a private at this time and no longer a drummer? All in all he was at his post and also left his post to get some precious fruit in the nearby garden. This incident is described on page 14. What is funny is that, while Bentinck seems to abandon his post to do no good and fill his pockets with fresh fruit, he happens upon a rifle with the bayonet fitted, belonging to the enemy who was doing similar, takes it, also finds the Danish soldier and takes him prisoner.
———
Enough for now.
