John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN THE INDEPENDENT
“Long lost art of first major global war discovered in Kent
“Exclusive: Largest selection of pre-19th century prisoner of war art ever found in Britain”
A really interesting item.
Especially in light of the treatment of captives recorded in histories of the American Revolution of just over a decade after the Seven Years War.
History books tell us about how captured enemy were released "on Parole" to return home and not return to the conflict.
It makes 18th century war sound rather humane compared to what we know.
But this story raises questions about that.
Perhaps the humane treatment was reserved for officers?
After all, officers in all armies of the 18th century were regarded and treated as being quite different than ordinary soldiers.
And, of course, they were. Officers in the British army were generally titled individuals. Sometimes others with very good connections and drive did make it. Commissions had to be purchased for significant amounts of money.
Ordinary soldiers, by comparison, were viewed as trash by society. None of the public attitudes we associate with soldiers, say, in WWII were in evidence. Sometimes soldiers were poor fellows "shanghaied" into service, just as a great many of the Royal Navy's sailors were at the time.
But many were very poor men who joined for the very small King's bounty offered. A few dollars look attractive to a dirt-poor man. Whatever their background, their treatment in the service was brutal. Floggings, hangings, poor food, poor lodging, and about every abuse you can imagine.
The prison from the Seven Year War appears from the materials to have been quite brutal, much like an American maximum-security prison of today. And the guards appear to have been terrible abusers and thieves. That also is a story we've had a lot of experience with in our time.
I do hope the material is preserved and housed somewhere suitable
