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Saturday, August 28, 2021

Teenage Mutineers- Cadets At The Royal Military College Great Marlow *Updated*

Updated December 2023

The Junior Department of the Royal Military College was established in Marlow as a temporary measure only but nevertheless remained here a number of years.

In Spring 1802 it was reported that having taken a spacious house and grounds in Marlow (Remnantz in West Street) the College was nearly ready to receive the first 100 cadets. There may have been last minute teething difficulties however as when the College opened it's doors on May 17th only 16 boys were admitted. By the end of the first year there were still only 42 cadets in residence.

£500 had been allowed to refit the house.


Gaining Entry

The cadets were to be trained as army officers and were aged 13 years and up. Ordnance students could enter as late as age 16. Others could be at most 15. Four years was the maximum term allowed for the completion of their studies. A staff member said later that  he thought it had taken most cadets three years to do so. Some would have received a commission by then but had to (in theory) remain at the college until they had completed their studies and conduct themselves as an ordinary cadet rather than get ideas above their station! In another measure to keep cadets humble they had to clean their own boots, a whole room or shed being dedicated to this in 1808. It's interesting that the stated duties of some of the servants at the College did include cleaning the boys shoes in 1809. A change of practice or a difference between official guidelines and actual procedures perhaps. 

A minimum height requirement was set at 4ft 9 to try to stop underage boys being sent to the College. Additionally they were supposed to supply certification of date of birth upon application for entry. There was not yet any civil birth registration scheme in England so these certifications would have been sworn statements from those who had witnessed the boy's birth or baptism not birth certificates as we think of them. Despite these precautions I have seen a reference in a family history to a cadet who was only 11 when he entered the College. Another boy who attended the college between 1808-1810 said there were boys as young as 8 enrolled but I can not verify this. 

Wannabe cadets had to show that they could right a legible hand and that they had a decent understanding of grammar and arithmetic. Boys recalling this exam seemed to be of the general opinion that it was not especially taxing. Some had previously attended prep schools which specialised in preparing boys for life at the academy in any case. 

The boys studied military subjects such as fortification (those lessons conducted only in French), horsemanship and military strategy as well as standard subjects like Classics, Geography, French, German, Drawing and Mathematics. Those that were cadets of the East India Company had to study Eastern languages too from 1808. Fencing was offered early on, with sabre exercises for the boys in the Upper School. Swimming was also taught.  Informally the boys played football (which resulted in many injuries!), swam in the Thames, went on long runs and organised fights amongst themselves in their limited free time. 

Education was free for orphans of officers and some others. Other boys were admitted, paying fees on a rising scale depending on circumstances. This and conditions for entry changed more than once during the stay of the institution in Marlow. At the end of their course, the boys would take an exam entitling them to a certificate of completion of studies and a recommendation from the College. They would then receive preferential treatment on applying for a non paid for commission when one became available, over another that had not studied at the College. Some families withdrew their sons before they took the final exam as they were able to gain a commission through purchase independently. In order to prevent parents treating the Academy as a convenient general boarding school, parents were eventually asked to make a declaration to the effect that they genuinely intended their sons to enter the branches of the military that the school was intended to prepare them for. 


A Fine Education?

Teachers came not only from Britain but from the continent and were supposed to be the best available but there were persistent accusations that the cadets did not receive an education of sufficient quality. 

The most ferocious critic of the College generally was perhaps Pierre Franc McCallum who thought Marlow an unhealthy situation for young men as it was by the river with the resultant damp air. He considered the teaching and moral supervision of the boys to be lazy and the contractors being paid for washing and tailoring to be charging fraudulent prices without anyone in charge challenging them. (He memorably described Marlow as a "seminary of vice, pollution and immorality.") 

Dr N Bruce who was appointed surgeon there in 1809 agreed that riverside Marlow was a terrible choice of location and blamed the higher than usual incidence of fever at the College on the fact it was located in the town. More unexpectedly it was reported in 1805 that 6 boys, the oldest 16, were being treated for venerable disease. 

Numbers of cadets were continually on the rise however, so it was seen as a desirable destination for their boys by enough families. By 1809 the number of cadets stood at around 320. Men who had taught there used their position to sell textbooks they had written and private schools advertised the fact they would prepare boys for entry into the College.

Marlow carpenter and builder William Bond senior was paid over £1000 to erect two new buildings at Remnantz between 1804 and 1805 as well as to carry out repairs on the existing buildings. The wooden buildings William built can be seen in paintings of the premises which have been widely published. These buildings contained an armoury, dormitories for 100 cadets, 4 classrooms or "study halls", some teacher accommodation, an exercise hall, and storage. William was employed to organise further running repairs at the college till at least 1809.

Dr Bruce thought the use of wooden buildings dangerous to the boys' health in our damp climate. Even worse he thought was the use of other buildings off site for overflow accommodation. What, he lamented, could be more dangerous than cadets having to walk in the open air through a town full of diseased poor people (which due to the riverside location he assured us Marlow was) breathing contagion on the cadets? General Le Marchant agreed the temporary accommodation at Marlow was injurious to the boys. With constant wet feet, and lack of warmth in winter, the incidence of sickness among the cadets was too high for his liking. 


The Infirmary

Those that did become ill would hope not to get a fever. Of all symptoms this was the most concerning to contemporary doctors. Any boy with one could look forward to a dose of mercury based medicine to "vacuate" them every couple of hours, not to mention the infliction of bleeding and blisters by Doctor Bruce. Amazingly only one boy died under this "treatment", a perfectly credible one at the time. 

The surgeon of the institution had a hospital in a hired building in the town as well as a room on site, one servant to help him and a garden behind the hospital for his use. What this garden was specifically for isn't mentioned - growing medicinal herbs, a perk of the job for the surgeon, a space for recuperating boys to exercise? It was in addition to the main garden on site. Records of the illnesses suffered by the boys include many examples of rheumatism. These should be read with the knowledge that the cadets admitted later to faking this complaint over all others. It was considered hard to prove whether a boy was a genuine sufferer so it was a good choice for those hoping to score a little break from study in the hospital. Unfortunately for the boys, the surgeon was eventually aware of the suspicious nature of the outbreaks and started to apply a vigorous regime of mustard plasters on the sufferers. This was considered worse than staying in class and studying! 

Other ruses engaged in by the cadets were gargling with vinegar to imitate a sore throat and furred tongue, splashing irritants into their eyes to make them red and hitting their elbows against a wall to make them swollen. 


Daily Life

The boys had a long day being awoken at 5am ready for their first parade of the day at 6am. Then there was time for a quick snack of bread brought around by a servant with a basket, then morning prayers, then drill for some - all before a sit down breakfast! Parade number two came after that. All officers were required to attend the latter.

Lessons began at 9am. As well as studying they had to perform guard duty at the main gates in West Street. Bedtime came at 10pm. The bedrooms mostly had between 6 and 13 beds. There were a few double bedded rooms. There are many reports of the boys sneaking out after dark however, or their friends from the town sneaking in because the perimeter was not well fenced in places and the same applied at times to the hired houses used for accomodation. 

Over time the amount of holiday the boys had seems to have altered as at one point they are recorded as having just one holiday (over the Christmas period) and at another point as having two annual holidays. They were allowed to go about the town in their limited free time, though no further without a special pass. The boys seldom bothered to obtain one of these as according to the anonymous ex cadet mentioned above, only one master could run fast enough to catch them if they were spotted out of town! Commandant Butler was also notoriously short sighted which must have helped. 

Reports vary as to how much "pocket money" the boys were permitted to receive from home. Some said they were allowed none at all. It seems as though the boys families were generally supposed to pay to the college any money the boys would have available for extras. The youngsters had to buy certain things out of this, such as their boot cleaning materials. They could then apply for the rest, subject to good behaviour, and with certain limits. Any extra money sent in a letter from home for example was supposed to be declared and handed over. One things for certain, money not declared and then discovered was quickly confiscated. Placing a coin under a seal in a letter was generally the best way to sneak in some fun funds! Those young men given a position beyond that of a general cadet - there were various junior ranks awarded - recieved what the boys called "pay" on a sliding scale depending on their level. However they got it, there are plenty of stories of the boys using their funds to hire boats, buy confectionary in the town, and bribe the servants to bring them treats or fun errands on their behalf. 


Rebellion

In 1804 a number of the cadets mutinied. (About 10) They had already carved graffiti onto the walls of the main building, while pencil inscriptions including the word "rebellion" decorated the doors of the other buildings. The planned mutiny involved putting gun powder purchased in the town under a hay rick in the meadow behind the main buildings.  This would then be set fire to it in order to cause a distraction for everyone else. The mutineers would then go to the armoury, take enough muskets for themselves and throw the rest in the College pond (still there when I was child too). Then, while everyone was gathered for prayers the boys would take out their guns and threaten the College head in order to get him to ditch a recent harsher regime of discipline. Later rumours were that the increased disciplinary use of the Dark Hole (a tiny dark underground room for solitary confinement) was the big issue, as well as the considerable extension of study hours.  There is no doubt that this hole existed at Marlow- ex cadet Francis B Head remembered it. He thought it "wholesome" as a punishment method and regretted towards the end of his life that young cadets were no longer subjected to it. Another cadet who wrote anonymously about his six months at the College in 1808 had no such opinion and spoke of the boys' dread of the Hole. He said there was also a Dark Room above ground with blacked out windows to hold lesser offenders. Later cadets said additional holes were added over time. The mutineers were said to intend to fill in the holes then existing as a priority. They would also demand that two Captains named Wheeler and Maxwell who had subjected them to - in their eyes - frequent and unjustified punishments should be dismissed. 

A tiny underground, windowless room was discovered under the stable block of Remnantz in the 1990s. It's entrance was bricked up. Those that found it speculated that this might have been The Dark Hole as no other use could be reasoned for it. My dad wriggled down into it and found a few pieces of old tack including a horse collar.  It was just big enough for him to stand up in. It may have had another innocent but forgotten use of course.

The mutinous boys were snitched on by another cadet so that they did not manage to carry out their plan. Nine cadets were expelled following the mutiny. This was criticized by some as overly harsh. They argued that the boys showed spirit in standing up for themselves and had come up with a detailed plan so would befit the position of an officer. But once you had showed a tendency to mutiny there was no way that the army was going to keep you in. In some ways, the boys aim of airing their grievances had been met as it bought public attention to the regime there. 

Later that year the Prime Minister toured the institution and watched the boys parade. He pointedly gave the officers and teachers praise for their highly disciplined regime and its resultant educational achievement and smart drill. Staff from the Senior department came over to Marlow for the day to meet the Prime Minister, bringing some of their pupils maps and drawings for his inspection.

Some boys chose a less violent way of escaping the school - running away. I have found at least 3 instances of this. All had got many miles before capture.

The anonymous man reminiscing later about his time at the College in 1808 said that the hole was only one of several "disgusting" punishments of which those involved should have been ashamed. He wrote of other petty cruelties too. One of the drummers had a second job of delivering post to the boys. They were expected to tip him in order to get their letters. He refused to hand over family correspondence, including those with black seals, which meant that the letter was announcing a death in the family - to any boy who did not pay him well. In addition Col Butler was said to extract informal "fines" from the boys in general for crimes he could not pin on an individual. 

Whether harsh discipline was effective in forming the boys character or helping their education will always be open to debate. Lewis Theophilus Peithmann refuting MacCullam's slurs on the character of the College in 1809 assured the public that "There is hardly any public institution in the world where the professors and officers keep a more watchful eye upon the propriety of speech than those of Great Marlow". Rather than being a bad situation for such an institution the town was ideal he thought because there was really nothing happening here to corrupt and distract young minds. Instead of going to balls and parties as they might do in a more lively town the cadets would of course "admire the work of God" as shown in the surrounding countryside and thus inevitably turn out as pure minded individuals. Should anyone nevertheless slip the Chaplain had strict orders to remove "offenders against the rules of morality". Peithmann wasn't actually correct when he said there were no balls or assemblies at Marlow. They occurred regularly. And he obviously hadn't heard of the cadets feud with the local bargeman that meant any lone cadet or bargee who met a group of his rivals could expect a thrashing* Nor of the fact that some of the wealthier older pupils stored wine in their rooms to share with friends. This was drank in addition to the beer routinely served to all boys at dinner. Furthermore, complaints about the Cadets general unruly conduct about the town and around were frequent. Some were alleged to gather at the premises of pastry cook Mr Sawyer and drink to excess. 


It's worth noting that cadets with the highest rank themselves had the ability to consign a boy to the hole or dark room, as well as to confine a wrongdoer to the academy for a few days or weeks, and to inflict extra guard duties. 


Gentleman Cadets

The most high profile by birth cadet to enter the College was the son of the Duke of Clarence, the "Master Fitzclarence" who was also the godson of the Prince of Wales. (George b c 1794) He entered into his cadetship in 1806*. The Duke and Prince visited the College together to inspect the cadets in 1808. Some high profile visitor or other came to inspect the cadets every year, usually twice, watching them at their lessons and on parade in the meadow behind the buildings.


 Parents, at least the most aristocratic ones, do seem to have been able to visit the cadets and watch them at their studies. One noble mother was in the habit of sitting by the side of her son's desk keeping as close eye as possible upon his progress to the boy's embarrassment. Each cadet had to sit in the same numbered place every day.


Draw Close To The Fire

In the first couple of years of the college before new halls of study were built classes were conducted in what had been the "old" stables and haylofts of the house the college was formed out of. These couldn't then be the same stables as the stable block you see today with the clocktower and cannon emblem weather vane above.  It is thought that they were built to go with the College  rather than dating from previous domestic use on the site. However a few have attributed the clock tower to the designs of Sir Christopher Wren. 

A boy recalling his lessons later said even the newer classrooms were freezing in winter with cadets who had got their clothes wet while on parade or on the march from sleeping quarters to classroom, shivering all day as they had no opportunity to change or dry them.


A Fine Uniform

The College uniform was a red coat with gold coloured buttons, tight blue pantaloons and a cap with a silver badge inscribed "Royal Military College". The buttons were similarly inscribed. We have some of the buttons and when I find them again I will add photos to the blog. As a child whenever we dug up one of the lost buttons in my garden, I always felt worried about the boy who had lost it given my knowledge of the Hole. Later Victorian cadets had to do extra drill duty if they lost a button. Hopefully that is the worst the Marlow boys ever faced! Comments were made about the boys sometimes less than smart everyday appearance with holes in their jackets and a sullen appearance on their face so attention to this detail was not uniformly observed.  From 1809 the boys waistcoats were changed from red to cheaper blue. 

The boys received their first set of uniform on their first day. They were given outgrown items from older pupils initially. Technically an allowance was made by the government for the provision of a uniform for the boys. However later on the cadets uniform was kept on their leaving and given for the use of the boys admitted on the strength of being the son of an officer killed in service. 

The caps the boys wore were each embroidered with a number so that that cadet could be identified by members of the public if they misbehaved outside. Newbies were told by other cadets to remember to turn their cap back to front if they broke the rules by going out of town so no one could easily report them. Older cadets drilled the younger ones so perhaps had opportunity to pass on such tips.

Marlow townspeople gathered up just such caps with their incriminating numbers upon them lost from the heads of the large number of the cadets who attacked the shop of surgeon apothecary Mr Hickman [William, more about him here]. Every bottle of his stock was smashed in revenge for one of the cadets being whipped in the face by Hickman. He in turn had attacked the boys because a few of them had untied a horse outside his shop and tied it up instead outside another property a few doors down. Three parish constables who came to Remnantz to chase up the offenders were carried to the pond for a dunking by the cadets but were saved by the officers intervening. No further action was taken against any cadets by the intimidated constables who further agreed not to come onto college property again! The feeling in Marlow after the initial outrage at the unruly pupils' actions went against Hickman when it was understood he had whipped a boy in the face. In 1810 Hickman became the surgeon to the cadets so clearly the authorities thought none the worst of him.


Boys who had been promoted to a more senior position at the academy wore various stripes on their shoulders, depending on the rank attained. Some of these junior "officers" were also permitted to carry a sword instead of a bayonet. Repeated indiscretions could take these privileges away however, and the miscreant might find themselves generally demoted. 


Good Rations And Attentive Servants

One complaint the boys don't seem to have made was about their food - at least when not subject to the bread and water diet punishment.  Supplies must have been plentiful as leftovers were sufficient to feed not only the female servants who lived on site but also between twenty and twenty four poor families from Marlow treated to the institution's charity. The poor families invited to receive food did so for a month at a time then were swapped out for another couple of dozen families. The senior staff had the right to graze cows in the meadow otherwise used for parade purposes, to provide dairy products for their own use. A favoured game of the mischievous cadets was to milk the cows in the field. As mentioned above the boys recieved a beer ration, with extras to mark special events such as Nelson's victory. 

The dining hall in 1808 contained 30 ten seat tables. The main meal was in the middle of the day with supper in the evening after another drill. 

In 1809 each company of 103 cadets (of which 25 were orphan sons of officers) had 4 menservants and 3 female servants plus there was some general servants for the institution as a whole such as the 3 kitchen maids. In all the Academy had around 29-32 servants at any given time. Many of the cadets remembered these civilian members of staff with great affection, in particular the female servants and pastry-cook who treated them with tolerance and kindness. 

The Armourer and the Quartermaster both had their own servants.

All the servants had an allowance made them for candles and coals. Those that did not live in were also granted lodging money. 

The College had a gardener who split his time between the main garden at Remnantz and the Commander of the institution's private garden at Cromwell House.

No more East India Company cadets were sent to Marlow after 1810. The rest of the cadets moved out on August 15th 1812. A month later Marlow auctioneer Mr Rolls hosted a grand sale on the premises when anyone in need of 100 portable bedsteads, 12 dozen chairs and stools, or an "extra stout" 7ft long kitchen range for example could take them off the military's hands. 

Other buildings that were used by the College in Marlow were: 83 West Street (bread baked for the staff in the cellar kitchens beneath it. Ovens were still there when I was a child. The cadets bread needs were supplied by outside bakers on contract), Marlow Place (extra accommodation), Albion House in West Street (hired from Jeffrey Tylecote 1809 for the accommodation of senior staff), Cromwell House in the High Street (hired circa 1804 for extra accommodation for the cadets who were expected to march to and from there each day. One and half acres of pasture behind it also stated as being used for the grazing of cattle belonging to the adjutant in 1809) and the Garrison in what was then Gun Lane but is now Trinity Road (as a laundry. Uncertain if whole of building used. The Garrison was of unknown origin - earlier military links suggested by the name have not been positively identified. It was used as a gentleman's house in the 1780s, subdivided into several tenements by the 1830s). 


Known Staff

Each department had its own separate classroom which the professors attended to supervise study in for 4 hours a day. There were 32 professors in 1810.  I was unable to find the individual names of the women employed for domestic purposes within the college or the male servants. Teachers had to apply in writing usually for their jobs but sometimes applicants were allowed to come to Marlow and apply in person (though they weren't to do so after 2pm as the General was already off duty!) Some staff split their time between the junior and senior departments in Marlow and Wycombe. One student recalling his days at Great Marlow declared that in spite of the long hours of study "there was not much learnt and the professor's did not seem to take a great deal of interest in their scholars...in short at Marlow I learnt nothing and even forgot some of what I learnt at school".  Drill, drill and more drill was king he said. It's clear that some of the boys from better off families were killing time at Marlow until a suitable commission cane along to be purchased by their families and probably the staff knew that. In 1808, The Monthly Review reviewed a published syllabus for geography at the Junior Department. They noted it contained some factual errors, and required the use of much learning by rote of facts such as the principal towns in different areas of the Empire. Why they asked did it not seem to be tailored to the requirements of future soldiers. Better for them to learn which rivers could have a temporary bridge thrown across, and which mountain passes were accessible to a matching army for example. But the review was used to form a general attack on the Junior department. It was in vain to "look for profitable tuition at Great Marlow while the management of the college is in the hands of persons who neither reside at it nor know what should be taught in it". (The non resident General Harcourt was referred to here. The Lieutenant Governor Le Marchant's unfulfilled wish to reside at Marlow is alluded to later in the review.)


On the other hand, a different cadet recalling the last few years at Marlow said that idleness amongst the boys was the exception rather than the rule and that their course of study was varied and interesting. The professors were with "a few exceptions" admirable and several over qualified for their work he thought. This second cadet does however recall the evenings were spent in raucous games and "sieges" that made study very difficult to those who wished to do it. Others played cards and hastily hid them in a desk when the footsteps of the staff on patrol were heard looming nearer. 


A selection of staff only:

William Alexander. Professor of Drawing 1802-1808. In 1808 became keeper of prints and drawings at the British Museum, a position he held until his death in 1816. 

N Bruce. Surgeon. 1809- Sandhurst days.

Colonel / Lieutenant Colonel James Butler. Commander of Junior Department from 1802 

Henry Clarke. Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy.

Isaac Dalby/ Dolby, mathematics teacher. Also at the Senior dept at Wycombe. Mainly came to Marlow to examine the students at regular intervals in order to assess if they should move up a class. Remembered by one student as gifted and knowledgeable but a teacher who struggled to convey his knowledge to the young pupils. Another agreed and described him as "surly and eccentric". Wrote the standard book of maths used at the senior college (and junior sometimes), published 1805. 

William Delamotte. (De La Motte) Assistant Drawing Master 1803- 1808 min.

W Sawrey Gilpin 1806+ Drawing master. First president of The Society of Painters in Water Colours.  Continued to teach at Sandhurst. 

Joseph Guy. Geography professor and prolific author of educational books. These were advertised with his role there as a selling point..what's good enough for the cadets..but see above! A review of the 21st edition of Joseph's New British Spelling Book in 1820 said  "Mr Guy seems to understand perfectly the power and nature of the infant mind, and the best means of enabling it to comprehend the value of letters, syllables and words.." His children's books covered history, geography, astronomy, general knowledge grammar, reading, handwriting and spelling. 

General William Harcourt. Governor of the Royal Military College. Ignored rules which required him to live at the College, and in fact was not often living in Marlow or Wycombe at all. He did however unfailingly put in an appearance at the twice yearly review of the cadets by royalty, usually either the Duke of York or Kent.

Revd James Knollis. Professor of History and Classics. Appointed 1804. Had recently left 1808. Set up a school on the outskirts of Maidenhead with the aim of preparing boys to be accepted at the College.

Colonel Gaspard John Le Marchant. Lieutenant Governor. To 1811. Frequently did not get on with Butler, Harcourt or Harcourt's wife. Lived at the Wycombe department, visiting Marlow 2-3 times a week despite his wish to be more involved here. Organised for some expelled boys admitted under the orphans of officers scheme to be given a second chance by their spending 6 months at William Sprotson's Royal Free Grammar School in Wycombe. If they knuckled down, they would be allowed back to Marlow. He used some of his own money in this scheme. 

Charles L Parker. Surgeon. Died 1809.

John Shakespear. Professor of Oriental Languages.

John Christian Schetky. Junior Professor of Civil Drawing from 1808-12. Artist who specialised in marine subjects. Left around time of move to Sandhurst to take up position at Royal Naval College, Portsmouth. Lived out, with his sister keeping house for him.  Befriended the Williams of Temple House and so returned on visits to the Marlow area for decades after his involvement with the Junior Department ended. 

William Wallace. Mathematics professor. 1803+ A Scotsman and partly self taught. Also lectured the boys on astronomy. 

Reverend William Wheeler. Chaplain 1807. 


Afterwards

After the military left Remnantz reverted to domestic use. The timber buildings were pulled down and sold off first then in 1829 the whole lot was going to demolished and sold as building materials. The mansion house, the stables with its bell and clock tower, all its floorboards, staircases, bricks, stone steps etc were put up for sale as building materials with the land it stood on. Fortunately the mansion and stables were bought as a whole, standing structure with the clock tower which can still be seen. It became the Wethered family home. Some parts of it were altered by them including by removing some of the upper storey. Some materials from Marlow were taken to Sandhurst to reduce costs, forming part of the laundry. 

*Initial reports of George's conduct were optimistic, stating he was steadily improving in terms of "diligence, study, dress and appearance".  Age 13 he was appointed to the 10th Hussars but remained at the College for some time afterwards. In 1808 he went home with his father for a short period "in disgrace" as he had not been applying himself to his studies. He promised his parents and Butler that he would do better on his return. His reluctance it was suggested was the result of being distracted by a wish to go in active service. His fellow cadets remembered him as good natured and inclined to idleness but doted on by both his parents who made frequent visits to him at the college. His mother stayed by George's bedside day and night when he was taken to the infirmary for a fever at one point. 

The Duke of Clarence's second eldest son Henry also attended the College, from April 1810. A senior cadet John Le Couteur was placed in charge of him. He remembered that Henry had been removed from the navy as he was considered "unmanageable." John was naturally nervous about what may become of himself if his charge continued to disappoint those in high places. He did however take on the mentoring role after writing for advice to his parents who encouraged him to persist. Young Henry claimed to have been mercilessly bullied in the navy, and it's interesting that John though his aristocratic charge would very likely suffer the same treatment if he was sent to sleep in the dormitories. So he arranged for Henry to sleep in his bedroom, which as a cadet with a ranking of "Responsible Under Officer" he didn't otherwise share with another pupil. 

©Marlow Ancestors. 

Researched by Charlotte and written by Charlotte Day, with some additional information from Kathryn Day.

Related posts:

Stephen Remnant for whom house was named here

Items dug up at Remnantz here

Another occupier of Albion House Flints Embroiders

And of Cromwell House here

*More about the extraordinary feud between cadets and bargeman here


Sources:

Journal of the House of Commons, Volume 61.

The Regimental Companion..Volume One by Major Charles James 1803. Digitized by Google.

Bentley's Miscellany, Volume 20. Published by Richard Bentley. 1846.

United Services Magazine 1894 article by General E Clive. Digitized by Google.

The Star (London) 22nd March 1802. Copy at the British Library. Accessed via the BNA.

The British Press, 6th February 1806. Copy at the British Library, accessed via the BNA.

Morning Post 24th August 1808. As above. 

Windsor and Eton Express 19 December 1812, as above.  Colburns United Service Magazine And Naval And Military Journal Part Two. 1868.

Bells Weekly Messenger 24th September 1804. British Library Archives via the BNA.

A Refutation of Pierre Franc MacCullam on the Royal Military College by Lewis Theophilus Peithmann, 1809. British Library Archive. Digitized by Google in 2016.

A Famous History Of The British Army From The Earliest Restoration in 1660 To The Present Times by Joachim Hayward Stocqueler. Published by E Stanford. 1871.

Personal Interviews.

A Report On The Principal Diseases Which Occurred Amongst The Gentleman Cadets At Great Marlow Bucks And Sandhurst Berks During A Period Of Seven Years. Paper read 1818. N Bruce.

The Report of the Commissioners, House of Commons, Volume 9 1810.

 Annals of Sandhurst: A Chronicle of the Royal Military Academy from Its Earliest Years by Augustus F Mockler-Ferryman (William Heinemann 1900)

A History of British Water Colour Painting - Herbert Minton Cundall (Dutton, 1908)

90 Years of Work and Play - Sketches from the Public and Private Career of  John Christian Schetky - S F L Schetky (William Blackwood & Sons 1877) 

A Scientific Soldier: The Life of General Le Marchant 1766-1812 - R H Thoumine, (Oxford University Press, 1963.)

The Growth of The Royal Military College 1799-1808, General E Clive. 1829. 

The Correspondence of George Prince of Wales 1770-1812 by A Aspinall (Cassell 1969).

The British Critic, by Robert Nares 1809. 

A Refutation of Pierre Franc McCallums on Remarks on the Royal Military Colleges... by Lewis Theophilus Peithmann, Professor of The Royal Military College. (Wyatt, 1809)

The Anti-Jacobin Review, 1820, quoted in the Literary Review, December 1820. 

Merry Hearts Make Light Days - the 1812 War & Journal of  Lieutenant John Le Couteur. - Sir John Le Couteur. (Carleton University Press 1993.)




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