ENLIST

Taking the Queen’s Shilling

This term is said to have eventuated from the practice of Press Ganging the regiments would send out Sergeants, Soldiers and drummers into surrounding towns and villages to recruit. Often these recruits were provided by less than scrupulous Tavern and Inn owners who received a bounty for their customers who were sleeping of the effects of alcohol. When the poor unfortunate recruit awoke he would find a shilling piece in his hand or pockets to prove he had willingly taken her Majesties money and accepted enlistment.

The process in reality was quite a lengthy one, your first contact was of course with a member of the recruiting party generally the Sergeant as the Officer's job was generally to keep an eye on the money and to smooth over any problems with the local authorities and magistrates. You would then haggle over the price of the bounty to be paid, and once a bargain was struck it is then that the recruit received his Shilling. Traditionally this was turned into ale at the earliest opportunity to celebrate the deal. After this it's off to the Surgeon for a medical then over to a Magistrate or justice of the peace, who attested the recruit by administering the oath. From this point on the recruit is subject to Military Law under the Mutiny Act. The next step in peacetime would be to march the fellow up to the headquarters where he was accepted or rejected by the Commanding Officer. In wartime or when the regiment was on overseas station it would be to the depot staffed by Officers drawn from the half pay list. From here if the Officer in charged thought the recruit suitable he would be sent to the training depot for training and exercise before being sent overseas. On arrival they would be again inspected and if approved by Field Officers the regiment would accept them.