Soldiers as Workers

The book outlines how class is single most important factor in understanding the British army in the period of industrialisation. It challenges the 'ruffians officered by gentlemen' theory of most military histories and demonstrates how service in the ranks was not confined to 'the scum of the earth' but included a cross section of 'respectable' working class men.

Common soldiers represent a huge unstudied occupational group. They worked as artisans, servants and dealers, displaying pre-enli...