Part 10

The Corps dates its present organization from 1873 when the old regimental medical system was abolished, which had many weaknesses and was open to considerable abuse. The reorganisation has been greatly to the benefit of the whole Army for it has provided a medical service far superior in skill, organization and establishment to any medical service in the world. Not only is the professional skill of the medical officers and the nursing skill of the men the best that the nation can provide, but the sympathy and devotion to their humane duties evinced by all ranks is a theme of constant admiration, and one of the most glorious traditions of the Army. In the hottest and most dangerous areas of the battlefield, in the dread infectious wards of the hospitals, and in their care of the sick and wounded, the members of the Corps have shown a devotion and bravery that has reflected the utmost glory on the whole nation. Many of the Officers and other ranks have won the highest and most coveted decorations on the field in discharging their splendid mission of saving life.

Nicknames: "Linseed Lancers," and "Poultice Wallopers."

_Uniform_, Blue.

_Facings_, Maroon.

_Head-dress_, Helmet.

_Cap_, Blue, with maroon band.

ARMY VETERINARY SERVICE AND ARMY VETERINARY CORPS

This humane service was brought into being in 1796. Previously the treatment of equine diseases in the service had been entrusted to the farriers, zealous, but for the most part ignorant, men working by rule of thumb. The founding of the Royal Veterinary College, London, just prior to that period helped materially in putting the corps on a sound professional basis, and the diploma of the College was a _sine qua non_ for a commission in the Corps. The first Veterinary Surgeon appears to have been Mr. John Ship, who was appointed to the 11th Light Dragoons in June 1796 and a few months later Professor Coleman of the Royal Veterinary College was appointed Principal Veterinary Surgeon to the Cavalry and Senior Veterinary Surgeon to the Ordnance. Under his energetic guidance the foundations of our splendidly efficient Veterinary service were laid. The service was re-organised in 1881, all regimental appointments, except those in the Household Cavalry, being abolished, and in 1891 substantive military rank was conferred on the officers instead of relative rank. The South African war brought a further development in the inclusion of N.C.O.'s and men in the Corps, and now the Corps musters a very strong body of experts whose services have been of inestimable value in the great war on the Continent.

Nicknames: "The Vets"; "The Horse Doctors."

_Uniform_, Blue.

_Facings_, Scarlet.

_Head-dress_, Helmet.

_Cap_, Blue.

ARMY ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT AND ARMY ORDNANCE CORPS

It is a remarkable fact that the Ordnance Department has a greater antiquity than any other branch of the Army, its history being traceable to the earliest military organisation of England. At one time it was a civilian department, then a branch of the Artillery, then a branch of the Engineers, and so curiously interwoven that it is very difficult to establish its actual origin. The first official record of an Ordnance Department dates back to 1418, when John Louth was appointed "Clerk to the Ordnance." The Master Bowyer, Master Fletcher, Master Carpenter, etc., were styled Officers of the Ordnance, which about 1455 became centralised at the Tower of London, where the Department continued for four hundred years under "The Master of the Ordnance," until removed to Woolwich. The duties have been, as now, closely associated with the provision and care of war-like stores, especially arms and ammunition, and the designation of the Department has varied considerably, the efficiency of the Department being steadily increased and splendidly maintained in the face of great difficulties.

Nicknamed "The Ordnance" and "The Sugar Stick Brigade" from the peculiar red and white piping of the braid.

_Uniform_, Blue.

_Facings_, Yellow.

_Head-dress_, Helmet.

_Cap_, Blue with yellow band.

ARMY PAY DEPARTMENT AND ARMY PAY CORPS

Before the establishment of the Army Pay Department in 1878, the financial side of the soldier's service was administered almost without system, this being carried out for the greater part according to the whim or skill of each commanding officer. So many people "had a finger in the pie" in handling the soldier's pay that the wonder is that any ever reached him at all, whilst the loss to the nation was enormous. After the abolition of the system under which each Colonel paid his men or did not, as he thought fit, Army Agents were made more or less responsible for paying the troops, and these appointed their own paymasters in each regiment. This system was open to abuse, and the troops suffered until the whole system of pay was taken over by the War Office and the Pay Department established. This Department also took over the payment for all the needs of the regiments and corps, and so well has it arranged its duties that every man in the army is now sure of every penny due to him, whilst the nation has been saved vast sums by preventing fraud and overcharging.

Nicknames: "The Quill Drivers" and "The Ink Slingers."

_Uniform_, Blue.

_Facings_, Red.

_Head-dress_, Helmet.

_Cap_, Red.

MILITARY POLICE

The formation of this Corps is comparatively a recent one, for until the year 1880 police duties in times of peace were discharged regimentally, and in times of war by more or less haphazard detachments under selected officers known as Provost Marshals. The formation of the Military Mounted and Foot Police, however, placed this important work on more solid and organised foundations, and in war and peace the members of the Corps discharge, in a most efficient manner, a large variety of important duties few are aware of. The policing of camps, lines of communication, supply bases and other important centres is only part of their work, which include the custody of prisoners of war, the safeguarding of general officers, and the execution of spies and other condemned prisoners.

Nickname: "The Red Caps."

"Gibraltar."

Motto: _Per Mare, per Terram_ (By Sea or Land).

_Uniform_, Royal Marine Artillery, Blue; Royal Marine Light Infantry, Scarlet.

_Facings_, Royal Marine Artillery, Scarlet; Royal Marine Light Infantry, Blue.

ROYAL MARINES

The evolutions of the Marines as a separate force before the accession of Queen Anne are little known. The earliest mention of Marines as a distinct force occurs in 1664, being an Order in Council for the formation of a body of 1,200 men for the sea service. Many infantry regiments have in their early days served as Marines, but the separate Corps seems to have had a corporate existence since the date mentioned above. Splendid service has been rendered on land and sea ever since, and the Marines are as justly considered as being among the best fighting men the Empire has. Their records show them to have taken important parts in many a famous battle on land, whilst contributing their share to every victory afloat.

The Royal Marines were, by the French, nicknamed "The Little Grenadiers," from the regiment wearing Grenadier caps. They are popularly known as "The Jollies." The Corps was originally raised for sea service alone. In 1664 it bore the name of "The Admiral's Regiment" in consequence, and "Neptune's Bodyguard."

ORDERS & DECORATIONS WORN IN THE BRITISH ARMY

The following are some of the principal medals, decorations and orders that have been worn, or are worn, by British soldiers:--

War Medals.

General Service Medal, 1793-1814. India Medal, 1799-1826. Waterloo Medal, 1815. First Burmah War, 1824-6. Capture of Ghuznee, 1839. Cabul Medal, 1843. China War, 1842-1860. Afghan War, 1843-3. Sutlej Campaign, 1845-6. New Zealand, 1846-65. Punjaub, 1848-9. India General Service, 1852-95. South Africa, 1853-79. Crimea, 1854-56. Baltic, 1854-5. Indian Mutiny, 1857-8. Canada, 1866-70. Abyssinia, 1868. Ashanti, 1879-94. Afghanistan, 1878-80. Roberts Star, 1879. Cape of Good Hope. Egypt, 1882-89. Khedive's Star, 1882-89. N.W. Canada, 1885. W. Africa, 1890-1900. Matabeleland, 1893. Central Africa, 1894-98. India General Service, 1895-1898. Ashanti Star, 1896. Sudan (British), 1896. Sudan (Khedive's), 1896. East and Central Africa, 1897-99. China, 1900. S. Africa (Queen's), 1899-1902. Do. (King's), 1901-2. 3rd Ashanti, 1900. East African General Service, 1900-1904. India General Service, 1901-02. Tibet, 1903-04.

Orders and Decorations.

Victoria Cross. Order of the Bath. Order of St. Michael and St. George. Royal Victorian Order. The Distinguished Service Order. The Military Cross. Order of St. John of Jerusalem. Albert Medal. Territorial Officer's Decoration. The Jubilee Decoration. The Coronation Decoration. Distinguished Conduct Medal. Meritorious Service Medal. Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. Militia Long Service Medal. Yeomanry Long Service Medal. Volunteer Long Service Medal. Territorial Force Efficiency Medal. Royal Humane Society's Medal. Order of Osmanieh. Order of Mejidie. Legion of Honour. St. George's Medal (Russian).

* * * * *

_Watchmakers to the Admiralty_

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British Army Medals and Ribbons

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Regimental Ribbons and Buttons of the British Army

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Crests and Badges of the Regiments of Yeomanry

in daily use. Size, 30in. by 20in. In Gold and Colours. New Edition, 56 designs. In handsome covers. 1s.

Stripes and Types of the Royal Navy

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Flags of the British Empire and National Flags

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Crests of the Royal Navy

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British Army Crests and Badges

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TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES

Silently corrected simple spelling, grammar, and typographical errors.

Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed.

Enclosed italics markup in _underscores_.