Desertion was a major problem in the British Army, especially in North
America. Poor pay, harsh discipline, bounties from Americans and
the proximity to the States were the main reason for the high
desertion rates in this area. Knowledge of one's next posting
could play a part in desertion as well. If it was learned that a
regiment was to be posted to the disease-ridden tropics, desertion
became widespread. It was well known that a European's chance of
survival in the tropics was slim.
During the American Civil War (1861 – 1865) the problem was
aggravated by the $400 to $700 bounties offered by American Recruiters
in order to lure trained British Soldiers into the Northern
Armies. These American agents were known as crimps. To
prevent desertion the soldiers had their freedom of movement
curtailed. They were not allowed to own civilian clothing and
rewards of $200 were given for the apprehension of crimps.
Kingston offered an additional $50 if a crimp was captured in the
area. By and large all efforts at preventing desertion failed
because the symptoms rather than the causes were being dealt with.
Even if a soldier stayed in the army, he only received a pension after
accumulating twenty-one years of service; the amount depending on the
length of service and the damage done by wounds or disease. The
pension varied but it was always pitifully small. For example,
Sergeant Richard Brown served twenty-one years with the 11th Hussars,
took part in the charge of the Light Brigade, and was never in the
defaulters book. After such an outstanding career his pension
was one shilling and three pence per day.
For the most part, unless a soldier possessed skills other than in
drill or musketry, only jobs involving menial work could be
found. Soldiers who had taken advantage of a free education,
particularly senior non-commissioned officers fared better. Some
even managed to establish their own businesses, and became
innkeepers, blacksmiths or sailmakers.
For old soldiers unable to find work, their only recourse was to
charity, the Poor Law or crime. As with widows, a retired
soldier was more likely to get help from private charities established
for soldiers and sailors. These were mainly supported by
officers, former officers and wealthy military families; people who
had seen what feats these old soldiers had performed.
