Buying Your Way into the Officer Corps, British Army Officer Recruitment 1683 - 1871.During the 18th

Buying Your Way into the Officer Corps, British Army Officer Recruitment 1683 - 1871.During the 18th and 19th century the recruitment of officers was much different than what it is today.  Today to become an officer in any branch of the military, one must enter into a collegiate program, such as officers school, a military academy, or an ROTC program.  Recently graduated cadets are commissioned with the lowest officer rank in the military, and are promoted based on skill and accomplishments.  However in Georgian and Napoleonic era Europe, money bought you rank and privilege.In the 17th century receiving an officer’s commission was a right only given to those who were of gentleman’s blood.  Today we use the phrase “ladies and gentleman” quite regularly, but 400 years ago a lady or gentleman was someone who had wealth, inherited titles, and inherited privilege.  In other word they were the upper class of society.  Being a gentleman had nothing to do with being well mannered, in fact many gentleman of the day were rude, crude, intolerant, and vile people.  However being a gentleman afforded one certain rights and privileges granted to no others, one of which was an officership in His Majesty’s Army.  This was important as being a military officer was an opportunity to increase ones wealth, reputation, political power, and privilege.However the world would be turned upside down when the Parliamentarians under Oliver Cromwell overthrew King Charles I in 1651.  The creation of an army lead by a cadre of spoiled over-privileged nitwits had deleterious effects on the English Parliamentarian Army.  Many of these men had no military experience, and had no business leading an army.  Time and time again Cromwell’s ingenious strategies were foiled not by the enemy, but by the incompetence of his own officer corps.  Cromwell reorganized the army, choosing his officers based on merit and skill rather than wealth or social class.  To Europe’s horror former cobblers became colonels and blacksmiths became generals.  By installing a high degree of competency and professionalism in his “New Model Army” Cromwell was able to defeat the forces of King Charles I, who would be executed shortly afterwords.Unfortunately Cromwell’s new system did not last.  The recruitment of professional officers ended with the death of Cromwell and the restoration of King Charles II, who would roll back many of the reforms made by Cromwell.  Because many in the upper classes, especially in government, feared that an officer corps manned by people of middle and lower classes could lead to another revolution, a new system was put in place In 1683. To ensure that only people of wealth could become officers, men were charged for their commission.  Yes that’s right, instead of going through training and learning military command was purchased by the wealthy.  Prices were higher for higher ranks, and different types of units; infantry, cavalry, artillery for example).  However to give an idea of the cost prices in 1837 for infantry commanders were as follows;Ensign/Coronet: £450Lieutenant: £700Captain: £1,800Major: £3,200Lt. Colonel: £4,500This was at a time when wages for an average farm laborer was around 30-40 Pounds a year.  The result was effective, an army lead by upper class gentleman, but also an army led by inexperience, incompetent, bumbling, over-privileged nitwits.  It was possible for a soldier to be risen to the ranks because of gallantry, but that was rare, and such officers often faced a culture of prejudice and loathing. While this system was riddled with flaws, the cracks really began to show in 1854 during the Crimean War.  At the Battle of Balaclava Lord Cardigan was ordered to charge a handful of cannon over in one direction with his 600 man light brigade.  Lord Cardigan mistook the orders, and instead charged a force of 20,000 Russians manning 70 cannon.  The overall cavalry commander, Lord Lucan, was ordered to provide support with his heavy brigade, but Lucan pretty much chose not to because Lord Cardigan was his brother-in-law, and Lucan didn’t like him.  The result was the Light Brigade was shot to pieces, nearly annihilated, and would never serve a meaningful role in the war again.The Light Brigade debacle would lead people to question the viability of the officer commission system.  This was coupled with a series of national scandal’s in which high ranking officials were caught selling commissions for personal profit.  The practice altogether was banned in 1871 with the Cardwell Reforms, although rewarding officership based on connections and privilege would still continue for decades. -- source link

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