A British Soldier's Christmas in Victorian Times


Christmas decorating in a British Cavalry barracks in 1887. (swords for your decorations)

Thomas Faughnan, a soldier in the 17th Regment of Foot, recounted the expectations of a bountiful Christmas party in 1850 sponsored by his company's Captain, who had just returned with his bride:

"On his arrival, he intimated that he would entertain his company to a Christmas dinner, and a barrel of ale to wash it down.

This glad tidings of great joy spread like wild-fire through the company, which soon after assembled in one of the largest barrack-rooms to deliberate on the preparations compatible with the forthcoming happy event. The meeting was presided over by the colour-sergeant of the company, supported by the other non-commissioned officers; when resolutions were passed and committees formed for the purpose of decorating the company's barrack-rooms with evergreens, mottoes, and numerous devices of swords, bayonets, ramrods and other paraphernalia of military trappings and armorial bearings emblematic of the festive season, joy, thankfulness and loyalty. Accordingly we set to work, one party deployed into foraging order in search of evergreens, other were forming stars and crowns by means of bayonets, swords and ramrods; others were employed in cutting out emblems and mottoes form fancy paper, while many artists were employed painting on white calico appropriate epithets, to adorn the spaces between the mottoes and evergreens.

At last the decorations were accomplished to the entire satisfaction of the many critics who volunteered their suggestions as the artists were giving the coup de grace to the scenery. The long tables fairly groaned with abundance of good things which had been provided for the occasion. Two large epergnes filled with fresh flowers, which had been kindly supplied by some of our fair friends, graced each table.

Everything being ready, we all sat down to dinner, dressed in shell jackets, white waistcoats, and black neckties. Every fellow who did not appear in this style of wedding-garment had to take a back seat. Just as the president stood up to say grace, in walked our captain with his fair young bride on his arm, accompanied by the subalterns of the company and one or two lady friends. As they entered the large hall, the first thing that commanded their attention was a reciprocal epithalamium. fancifully painted in coloured letters in honour and praise of himself and his young bride. This caused a great amount of badinage and merriment among the chosen few. As the distinguished party entered, we all stood up, and the band, which we had in readiness for the occasion, struck "Behold the Conquering Hero Comes" followed by a wedding march.

After which the president proposed the health of the captain and his bride, which was cheerfully drank form flowing goblets of sparkling ale, to the appropriate tune of "He's a Jolly Good Fellow," the company joining in the chorus. Then the captain responded in a few well chosen words, which drew forth three hearty cheers for himself and his wife. They then vouchsafed to walk through the barracks rooms, eulogizing and admiring the ability and skill displayed in the decorations, as well as the taste manifested in ornamenting the tables. They then retired amidst hearty cheers from the company; leaving us in our glory to enjoy the abundance of substantials placed before us. After dinner, the evening passed off most agreeably with songs, toasts and sentiments, and was wound up with a dance."

Faughnan went on to briefly recount the Christmas of 1853 while in Ireland:

"At Christmas, our captain, John Croker, treated the company to a barrel of Guiness's XX porter. Lieutenants Coulthurst and Earle looked after the sergeants and married men, in the way of several substantials to cheer their hearts on the festive occasion, when the usual decorations of the company's rooms with evergreens, mottoes and emblems were tastefully arranged and carried out under the supervision of the non-commissioned officers, and a happy convivial evening was spent with songs, toasts and sentiments, with a hop to wind up with."

British Militia returning from Christmas Drill, 1865

Similar traditions were practiced as well in the cavalry. In his autobiography, From Private to Field Marshall, William Robertson recalled his first Christmas in a British cavalry regiment:

On Christmas Day 1877, I was detailed for my first military 'duty' that of stable-guard or looking after the troop-horses out of stable-hours. The custom was to employ the most recently joined recruits on this particular day, so that the old soldiers might be free to make the most of their Christmas dinner, which was provided by the officer commanding the troop, and included a variety of eatables never seen on any other day, as well as a liberal supply of beer. The casks containing the beer were brought some time before to the barrack-room where the dinner was to be held, and were placed under charge of a man who could be depended upon to see that they were not broached before the appointed hour. Had this happened - as it sometimes did - rather awkward incidents might have occurred when the officers visited the room just previous to the dinner to wish the men a merry Christmas and to receive similar wishes in return. If any individual did, by some means or other contrive to start his festivities too early, efforts were made to keep him in the background until the officers had left.

It wsa the practice to see that all members of the troop who were absent on duty should be specially well cared for, and in my case the dinner brought to the stable consisted of a huge plateful of miscellaneous food - beef, goose, ham, vegetables, plum-pudding, blankmange - plus a basin of beer, a packet of tobacco, and a new clay pipe!"

In addition to a fine meal, singing, dancing and elaborate decorations, some soldiers of regiments applied themselves in the acting profession, presenting amateurs plays like "The Mistletoe Bough" and "Visions of Christmas" (a version of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol).

Decorating the Barracks for Christmas Day in the 1890s

Royal Welsh Fusiliers Men's Barracks Decorated for Christmas, 1899

First the barracks room had to be whitewashed and the floors were scrubbed and rescrubbed until no spots remained.  Coal fire grates, coal box and ironwork were polished with blacking.  Which soldier landed this tedious duty?  "Let a youngster give his opinions too freely, or a drunken comrade disturb the occupants of his room on return from town, and the following day he is to be seen.... with brush in hand, preparing the room for Christmas Day. "

After the room was clean and painted, the decorating began. In the above image, the beds were arranged in the form of couches, which were covered with Government blankets to increase their beauty and comfort. Decorations of

"Chinese lanterns, combined with every kind of fantastic design in coloured papers, adorn the ceiling, and holly and evergreens are profusely used.   On the walls loyal sentiments are usually to be read, accompanied by a portrait of one or other of the Royal Family.  The fire-places and walls were further treated, and add to the general effect... High up on the wall is a portrait of Her Majesty.  Under this is the badge of the regiment, and the honours of the regiment are inscribed on either side of a scroll which calls down blessings upon the head of the commanding officer and his wife.  Below this the Government blankets are made to do duty, but not as intended by Government regulations.  On other parts of the walls good wishes are to be read in abundance, and these are extendd to officers and non-commissioned officers alike.  Above the fire-place in another is an excellent respresentation in cotton wool of the regimental goat which marches at the head of the regiment and of which the Welsh Fusiliers are justly so proud." 

Regimental Goat Christmas decoration for the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 1899

The gunners for the 44th battery of the Royal Artillery also placed their iron bedsteads together to make couches like the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.   As shown in the image below, almost all the soldiers dining are single. The married soldiers were on Christmas furlough.  The absence of married soldiers from the barracks allowed the single soldiers the room to section off their barracks accommodations to allow for a decorated space. 

44th Battery, Royal Artillery sitting down to Christmas dinner, 1896.

      The West Yorkshire Regiment in 1896 added a little more humour to their barracks display. The picture below shows "extra pictures, in fancy frames, adorn the walls; and the artist of the Company is employed to emblazon the regimental honours and good wishes to his officers in every convenient place.  Designs are made from bayonets, swords, rifles, and other warlike implements.  Japanese lanterns are hung profusely about the room, and holly and evergreens everywhere reign supreme.  Trophies won in tug-of-war competitions or musketry add to the good effect." Mannequin sentries of a constable and a German soldier stand guard over the kegs of alcohol barring the comical brands of "Dead Dog", "Dynamite" and "Old Sox".  Woolen blankets have been added as cushions to the trestle benches to add a plusher feel to the dining experience.

 
West Yorkshire Regiment Barracks at Christmas, 1896.

Commanding officers of many garrisons and regiments provided cash prizes for the best decorated room.  These prizes were not insignificant amounts. At Aldershot in 1880 the Major General commanding offered the princely sum of £22 sterling to the winning barracks room.  Artists in each company were put to work.  Some had limited talent would others were exceptional.

Left: Surrounded by flags and garland an artist props himself up on an bed roll and iron bedstands and paints sign.
Right: West Yorkshire artist completes the comical sentry's face who stands guard at the kegs. 

The skill of the artist in the 4th Company, Royal Engineers in 1896 was particularly eye-catching.  Sapper Crespinel painted two works for the barracks christmas decoration.  One was of a lancer charging into battle, while other was a light-hearted piece of the unit's musicians practicing for "the Yule-tide serenade" while a frustrated soldier seems to tell them to keep the noise down.

When the decorations were complete, a Christmas dinner was prepared and guests were received to enjoy the festive atmosphere.  When sitting down to dinner, one soldier's barracks offered a bizarre, and today unacceptable, spectacle.   The previous evening a soldier had returned to barracks "in his cups" and had set fire to one or two of the paper ornaments. His comrades acted quickly to put the fire and a barrack-room court martial of his peers was held to judge and punish the disruptive private: "the sentence was a source of amusement to all but the culprit. He was condemned to blacken his face before the Christmas dinner and wait upon his comrades during the feast.  The colonel was naturally amused, when he visited the dinners, to see the 'coloured gentleman,' but it was not until he was afterwards informed of the circumstances that he enjoyed a hearty laugh."

To pay for the feast, the men in the 1890s voluntarily forfeit part of their pay for a period of a month.  Prior to this, funds came from the profits of the regimental canteen.  The officers liberally donate funds to the soldier's banquet "so that there is no lack of Christmas fare, nor are the decorations forgotten."  The end result is "the consumption of an abnormal amount of food and drink, with the attendant evils of indigestion, dyspepsia, and other physical derangements."  In this regard, not much has changed since 1899.

Not to be outdone, the 16th Lancers take decorating to a whole new level in 1896.  Note how they converted their bedsteads into elegant couches.  This was presumably done by combining their horse blankets with the Government blankets.  Blankets are also added to cushion their seats.  Surely a prize-winning effort.

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------- "Christmas with the Sub-Marine Miners" The Navy and Army Illustrated December 25, 1896.
------- "Tommy Atkins's Christmas Decorations" The Navy and Army Illustrated February 4, 1899.
Thomas Faughnan, Stirring Incidents in the Life of a British Soldier (Picton, 1888).
E. J. Hardy, "Christmas in the Army" Cassell's Magazine (London, 1899)
William Robert Robertson, From Private to Field Marshall (London, 1921).

Author Robert Henderson enjoys unearthing and telling stories of military valour, heritage, and sacrifice from across the globe. Lest we forget.

Swords for decorating?

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