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#1
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Tommy
I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer, The publican 'e up an' sez, 'We serve no redcoats here.' The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die, I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I: O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' Tommy, go away But it's 'Thank you, Mister Atkins,' when the band begins to play, The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play, O it's 'Thank you, Mister Atkins,' when the band begins to play. I went into a theatre as sober as could be, They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me: They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls ! For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' 'Tommy, wait outside'; But it's 'Special train for Atkins' when the trooper's on the tide, The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide, O it's 'Special train for Atkins' when the trooper's on the tide. Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap; An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit. Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' 'Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?' But it's 'Thin red line of 'eroes' when the drums begin to roll, The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll, O it's Thin red line of 'eroes' when the drums begin to roll. We aren't no thin red' eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too, But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you ; An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints, Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints ; While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' 'Tommy, fall be'ind,' But it's 'please to walk in front, sir,' when there's trouble in the wind, There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind, O it's 'Please to walk in front, sir' when there's trouble in the wind. You talk of better food for us, an' schools, an' fires an' all: * We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational. Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace. For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that an' 'Chuck him out, the brute !' But it's 'Saviour of 'is country' when the guns begin to shoot; An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please; An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool - you bet that Tommy sees ! R. Kipling 1892 |
#2
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Tommy - into Brit military
"pe.rhodes" wrote
R. Kipling 1892 - poem Tommy O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' Tommy, go away But it's 'Thank you, Mister Atkins,' when the band begins to play, The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play, O it's 'Thank you, Mister Atkins,' when the band begins to play. Question, #1 In 1770s, Brit recruited soldiers, once signed up, they were in for life. About when did this change to a set number of years? #2 In 1770s, commisioned positions were for sale. All higher positions/promotions were for sale at succesively higher prices (generally - person had to serve 'successfully' at a lower rank to buy a top rank position). About when, and through what major stages did this process change to merit? |
#3
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Tommy - into Brit military
"a425couple" wrote in message . .. "pe.rhodes" wrote R. Kipling 1892 - poem Tommy O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' Tommy, go away But it's 'Thank you, Mister Atkins,' when the band begins to play, The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play, O it's 'Thank you, Mister Atkins,' when the band begins to play. Question, #1 In 1770s, Brit recruited soldiers, once signed up, they were in for life. About when did this change to a set number of years? According to Holmes in 'Redcoat, for most of the age of horse and musket (7 Years War through to the Crimea), enlistment was for life, which in practice meant 25 years. Shorter enlistments were available in wartime. Not sure when specific, shorter enlistment terms were introduced but, folowing Holmes, it must have been by the period of the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny. #2 In 1770s, commisioned positions were for sale. All higher positions/promotions were for sale at succesively higher prices (generally - person had to serve 'successfully' at a lower rank to buy a top rank position). About when, and through what major stages did this process change to merit? Never has. You still don't want to join the tanks if you haven't been to a good boarding school. Only half-joking. |
#4
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Tommy - into Brit military
"The DA" wrote
"a425couple" wrote Question, #1 In 1770s, Brit recruited soldiers, once signed up, they were in for life. About when did this change to a set number of years? According to Holmes in 'Redcoat, for most of the age of horse and musket (7 Years War through to the Crimea), enlistment was for life, which in practice meant 25 years. Shorter enlistments were available in wartime. Not sure when specific, shorter enlistment terms were introduced but, folowing Holmes, it must have been by the period of the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny. #2 In 1770s, commisioned positions were for sale. All higher positions/promotions were for sale at succesively higher prices (generally - person had to serve 'successfully' at a lower rank to buy a top rank position). About when, and through what major stages did this process change to merit? Never has. You still don't want to join the tanks if you haven't been to a good boarding school. Only half-joking. Thanks for the info you provided. I'll be posting a version of this, over on soc.history.war.misc for further ideas. |
#5
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Tommy - into Brit military
"a425couple" wrote
"The DA" wrote "a425couple" wrote Question, #1 In 1770s, Brit recruited soldiers, once signed up, they were in for life. About when did this change to a set number of years? According to Holmes in 'Redcoat, --- age of horse and musket (7 Years War through to the Crimea), enlistment was for life, which in practice meant 25 years. Shorter enlistments --in wartime. Not sure when specific, shorter enlistment - were introduced but, -- it must have been by the period of the Crimean War/Indian Mutiny. #2 In 1770s, commisioned positions were for sale. All higher positions/promotions were for sale at succesively higher prices (when - merit?) Never has. ----- . Only half-joking. Thanks for the info you provided. I'll be posting a version of this, over on soc.history.war.misc Thanks again DA! If anyone cares to read more, got informative responses from posting on June 8 on sci.military.naval, and s-.h-.medieval. |
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