ABSTRACT
The first fifty years of the 19th century furthered the paradox of the anti-intellectual, hedonistic, sport-loving gentleman regimental officer again generally displaying robustness, initiative and personal bravery when needed. Fighting in India was almost continuous in these years, involving many British Regular regiments as well as those of the East India Company. Cavalry regiments were thought to be particularly suitable for this role, the horses adding a dimension of awe, and in general Regular regiments were preferred to the local Yeomanry. Artillery debate centred on the combat deployments and numbers of guns, horses and men, the sizes of guns and the merits or demerits of rockets, mortars and shrapnel, and whether a separate Royal Horse Artillery was necessary. In practice, officers and Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) trained their regiments for most of this period at single-unit level only, and in very old-fashioned and very complex drill evolutions modified only a little by Peninsula experience.
