FORTY-FIRST
  • Home
  • Events
  • JOIN US
  • FAQs
  • What's New

Forty-First Regiment Blog

A Most Extraordinary Instance of Depravity

2/21/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
​By Tom Fournier
 
Oh, the gems you come across when doing research!
 
I believe most of us realize that the average British soldier was not a choirboy.  They were volunteers from the most poor and downtrodden.  They may have volunteered to escape the prospects of a domestic situation that they did not like. They were also forced conscripts from the judicial system; rather than face transportation to a penal colony or other punishment, a life in the army was offered as an alternative.
 
The Duke of Wellington was purported to say,” I don't know if they frighten the enemy, but they scare the hell out of me."

Read More
0 Comments

A Soldier’s Meagre Existence

2/2/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Photo by Thom Atkinson [1] ​
By Tom Fournier

Some years ago, I had the good fortune to do some work at the National Archives (Public Records Office) in Kew (London) during a visit to the U.K.
 
As I was going through the casualty returns for the 41st Regiment during their time in Canada, I noticed for some of the early years there were also included statements of debts for some of the individuals that died along with the corresponding credits (outstanding pay and the results of the sale of their personal necessaries). 
 
I thought it an interesting perspective to see what some of these individuals had as personal items. 
 
Interesting, yes.
 
Fascinating insights, certainly.
 
And unexpectedly, sad.  Their life, all their worldly possessions summed up in a little chit, haphazardly stuck between the pages of a casualty return.
 
Here are several of them:

Read More
0 Comments

    Authors

    These articles are written and compiled by members of the 41st Regiment Living History Group.

    Archives

    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    January 2023
    December 2021
    February 2021
    November 2020
    September 2020
    January 2020
    October 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    February 2017

    Categories

    All
    Insurance
    Updates

Links
Blog
​
Trading Post
Archive
About
​
History of the 41st 
Contact
​
Copyright & Disclaimer

© COPYRIGHT 2017. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • Events
  • JOIN US
  • FAQs
  • What's New