Day 140 - Sandhurst

I am currently writing a new textbook with Dr. Lez Rayman-Bacchus, who I have been working with at the University of Winchester. Today I was travelling by train to visit him at his home in Camberley. The rail station where he picks me up from is in the same area as Sandhurst, the famous army training school. So, for this day's blog I'm going to write about it and provide some interesting facts about England's premier military college.

Sandhurst Military College was founded in 1802 (they received approval from parliament in 1801) with the purpose of providing gentlemen cadets with training to become officers in the infantry and cavalry of the British Army. West Point was also established that year for the U.S. Army officer training. The buildings that now house the college were built in 1812.

Until 1871, when the government abolished the practice, it was possible to purchase a commission in the Army. For example in 1837, if you wanted to become a Lt. Colonel in the cavalry, you paid approximately £6,175 (equal to about £515k in today's money). After that, one advanced on merit alone.

The college continued its activities until the Second World War when most of its students were sent off to the battlefields and the college was converted to army support facilities. After the war the college was renamed the Sandhurst Military Academy and merged with the Military Academy at Woolwich where the cadets were being trained to be officers in the Artillery and Royal Engineers. Since then, all officers in the Army are trained here.

Some famous and infamous graduates include Sir Winston Churchill, Earl Haig (the person who a Toronto high school is named after) and most recently Prince Harry, as well as a few Middle Eastern sultans and kings, including King Hamad of Bahrain, King Abdullah of Jordan and Sultan Qaboos of Oman. Sandhurst has received a lot of attention lately as it has been the beneficiary of Middle Eastern money that has helped build new facilities at the college. Perhaps the notion of paying for your commission hasn't really been abolished!

Ale of the Day: Traditional English Ale (TEA), Hogs Back Brewery, Farnham, Surrey