Was your Grandfather an Army Schoolmaster ?
In 1847 the Army Schoolmaster training programme was set into motion with the first course beginning in 1847 at the Normal School of the Royal Military Asylum, Chelsea. The course was advertised in the national press and applicants invited to apply. The invitation was extended to candidates from among the serving Regimental Schoolmasters and suitably qualified serving military personnel to sit the examination applicants were directed to the RMA or a local venue if those applying were too distant from Chelsea.
The first students arrived at the RMA in March of that year and, surprisingly, were from locations throughout the United Kingdom. Of the 76 students admitted, 15 were soldiers, 31 under 20 years of age, one was 30 and the remainder between 20 & 25 . The majority of applicants were examined at the RMA, probably over a period of two or three days, accommodation being provided at the Normal school. Those who failed the entrance examination were reimbursed for their travel expenses.
The trainee students were divided into the two groups, Monitor who would be under instruction for up to 6 years and, those admitted as a full student, could look forward to a two year course.
Monitors:- Instructed at the Normal School for two years. On passing their examination, they were promoted to Assistant Schoolmaster and posted to a Regiment or school for two years tuition and practical experience under the tutelage of a Schoolmaster Class 3. On completing this training, the Assistant Schoolmaster, sometimes referred to as a Schoolmaster Class 4, returned to the Normal School as a Student.
Student:- Received further teaching instruction, at the expiration two years re-enlisted as a Schoolmaster Class 3 in the ASM Corps. He was, then posted to a Regiment or Garrison School.
Note: Monitors & Students from military units, received their full army pay for the time they spent at the Normal School, less 6d per day (2 1/2 pence) for dietry, meaning their food & accommodation. Civilian trainees received £6.6.0 (£6.30p)per year, but they were fed for free .
Clues to the discipline at the Normal School are sprinkled throughout the Normal School Letter book, WO143/47. 1853 - 1859. Letters sent from the Normal School reference the arrival, medical examination, dates of acceptance or being removed from the 'on probation' list and the issue of the various items of uniform necessary for the performance of their duties as Schoolmasters. The letters are a guide to the life of the monitors and students at the Normal School. Discipline was somewhat harsh by modern standards. Many appear to have arrived on parade dirty, unkempt and slovenly. One doubts that they were, but would seem to be methods used by the instructors to keep the students in order.
The ledgers, also contains the names of those taking the schoolmaster courses held between 1853 & 1859. As the letter book is incomplete, not all students/monitors who attended the courses during this period have been included. Those named however, can now be traced from their arrival as trainees to their posting as either an Assistant Schoolmaster or Schoolmaster. Details of their enlistment dates complete with the Regiment, Garrison and place to which they were posted are included .
An indication of student discipline is to be found in the ledger WO143/50 Normal School offences 1860-1873, which records the names of students for infringements of discipline. By calculating that Monitors who would be Schoolmasters Class 4 after 2 years, provides a marker for when the monitor enlisted; the same calculation can be used for the Students to Schoolmaster Class 3.
Further information is to be found in two defaulters registers, which record the ranks of the soldiers attending and grade that the students are studying; that is, Monitors to be Assistant Schoolmasters and Students to be Schoolmaster Class 3.
Some confusion may be had with the promotion of the soldiers within the Normal School, as many were Sergeants. Three positions were reported, for which the recipient received a Gold Knot, they are, Corporal of the Parade, Corporal of the Dormitories and Corporal of the Reading Room.
The record of Schoolmasters is not complete. Many letters and ledgers of the period are missing. If your family tree includes an Army Schoolmaster after 1847 and before 1910, then please consider adding his details to the collection. Forward his full names date of birth if known and Regiment or units to which he was posted to plus any other detail that will establish his employment as an Army Schoolmaster.
Army Schoolmasters pre 1846 were known as Regimental Schoolmasters, a suitably qualified Sergeant was promoted within the Regiment to Schoolmaster Sergeant. Information on these too are needed to give a full picture of the then new Army Education system, which led to the formation of the Corps of Army Schoolmasters and the Royal Army Education Corps.
As with the Rifles, teachers were meant to be selected from the available sergeants, and Bell's system used in teaching. In the North York Militia the man selected was Sergeant William Hutchinson, who was sent to Chelsea for a month-long course on Bell's methods. Hutchinson had been the schoolmaster for the unofficial regimental school for many years, but was now allowed proper accommodation for the school and £10 per annum for stationary and expenses, with extra for fuel in winter.
Tuxton RB.History of the North Yorkshire Militia. Stockton on Tees .1963 pp102/103.
After the move to Dover in 1909, the responsibility for the training of the Army Schoolmasters was transferred to Aldershot, and School master courses were conducted there. Postcard images of Course No. 23 was in 1910 and Course No 8, if they continued being started or/ended every January & August, could have been in circa 1907.
Regimental schools found will be displayed on the Schools Found page
Other Regimental schoolmasters have been discovered within the admission ledgers of the RMA, Chelsea . I am currently working on a definitive list of Schoolmasters, which will be made available shortly
Your assistance with this project would be appreciated.
Responses please to
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A more comprehensive report of the History & development of the Corps of Army Schoolmasters and the birth of the Army Education can be seen at www.achart.ca/york/schoolmasters.htm |
RMA Index |
Schoolmaster Training at the RMA Normal School, Chelsea
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The first Course at the RMA Chelsea |
| WO143_ Under Construction | |||
| WO143/47 Offence entries | |||
| WO143/47 Enlistment to CASM | |||
| RMA HOME PAGE | |||
| Student Schoolmasters. RMA c1900 | Belgaum School India c 1903 | WO143/55 Normal School Offences 1859-73Offence Index 1860-1873.pdf |
