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Family life in the 19th century British Army

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by Fraxie (U14471550) on Friday, 12th November 2010

  While tracing my family through several generations of army live I've become very interested in the lives of the women and children whose experiences I can only glimse through their names and details recorded at ten year intervals in whatever barracks they are in for that census. That's if I'm lucky of course and they haven't vanished for a while through being abroad.
  
  I've spent ages searching through books and websites but nobody seems to have recorded what their lives were like - the accomodation, travel, childbirth, food, discipline, education, etc.
  
  Have any of you come across any references that I could follow up?

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by crusader2 (U14330993) on Saturday, 13th November 2010

  fraxie
  
  there are several mentions of journals and diaries - even those written by wives
  on the following website
  
  
  
  Ofcourse the situation would be quite different at other empire outposts. Depending on climate, location, population, political situation and so on.
  The empire covered SE Asia, Africa, Caribbean, South America, Australasia etc
  
  Each offering its own perks, hazards and quirks of living. It is such a broad subject for research though I feel I can vouch safe that child birth the world over was pretty much the same.
  
  Don't just narrow your field of research to army wife, because there were diplomats, civil servants and other venturers at many of the outposts. All sources of such diaries will build up a picture of civilian life as well as military life.

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by MB (U177470) on Saturday, 13th November 2010

  If you ever get to the area then Fort George is worth a visit because they have barrack rooms set up to show life in different periods. From what I remember at least one wife would live in the room with her husband and cook and wash for the other soldiers.
  
  I read some years ago that widow would be returned to where her husband enlisted when he was killed in service though often another soldier would marry her. I thought this might have explained how my Great Great Grandmother got from Canada to Yorkshire via Chester but later found that she was with the regiment in Chester when he died in Ireland but she could still have been sent to his home parish because that is where she was a few years later.
  
  

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by Fraxie (U14471550) on Wednesday, 17th November 2010

  Thanks for the suggestions Crusader2 and MB. I think this is going to be uphill work.

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