Were smaller, quicker and smarter men, used as skirmishers. The Grenadiers were theīig, stupid folks, used for main assaults. On losses and when the latest draft of replacements have arrived)Īnd there being 10 companies in a battalion 8 infantry companies,ġ grenadier company and 1 light company. Pretty wildly, with companies having between 30 and 100 men (depending Than one battalion (like the 60th and 95th Rifles) but this was One of its two battalions the other battalion being kept at homeįor recruits and replacements (remember Sharpe's Regiment?) orīehind the lines with the wounded.

Colonel, 5th Belgian Light Dragoons (1815)Īt this time in the British army a regiment usually only fielded.

Sergeant, 33rd West Yorkshire and Riding Regiment of Foot (1799-1803).

Private, 33rd West Yorkshire and Riding Regiment of Foot (1798- 1799).

Corpral, 33rd West Yorkshire and Riding Regiment of Foot (1798).

Private, 33rd West Yorkshire and Riding Regiment of Foot (1796-1798).

Sharpe, however, was most fortunate to have been promoted in India before he became a rifleman and long before the Penninsula took such a toll on the officers of the British Army. In the Rifles, because soldiers had to be able to think and operate independently, there was more occasion for exceptional talents to be displayed and subsequently noticed.

Within the 95th Rifles, that percentage was slightly higher as there was better opportunity to be promoted due to heroism or neccessity due to combat losses. By the end of the Penninsular War, the officers in Wellington's Army that had come up from the ranks made up roughly 6% of the officer class. Sharpe was not immune to that particular trend.īeing commissioned an officer from the enlisted ranks, while not looked upon favorably by the officer class, was not as uncommon as perceived. On the other hand, given the rate of alcohol consumption among the enlisted ranks, it was more likely that instead of promotion, an otherwise capable corporal or sergeant would be demoted.

Once earned, an NCO would likely hold his rank until the time he mustered out unless he was fortunate enough to perform a heroic feat, like Sharpe did, or he proved worthy enough to step into a critical vacancy caused by battle loss. For the private soldier, the most frequent cause of promotion was often a matter of favoritism, or in the case of someone like Obadiah Hakeswill, it was gained through devious manipulation. ~ Sharpe's Ranks ~ Rank in the British army was often a fleeting thing, especially for the enlisted ranks.

Where did s rank come from