A Steampunk Story - Introduction and Background Part 2, The Gentlemen of the Army

The main thrust of the story will be the assimilation of the Navy and Army groups and their subsequent trials and adventures countering diverse threats to the Empire.

The Introduction Part 1 - General situation

To begin with the cast of characters, I shall introduce the Gentlemen of the Army and a few details of their organisation and responsibilities. Some contemporary illustrations from cigarette cards give an idea of the look of these characters.

The Kings Royal American Rifles (60th Foot) 

Organisation of the Company 

As Victorian military organisation is very different from modern armies, for clarity, I have listed below a quick description of how the company was organised. 

Officer Commanding [OC] (a Commanding Officer is commands a Battalion or Regiment for those of a horsey inclination) - A Captain, or a Major, who is the commissioned officer responsible for the company.  

Company Sergeant Major [CSM] - A Warrant Officer (2nd Class) or Colour Sergeant responsible to the OC for the moral, discipline and administration of the company. 

2 Buglers - to transmit orders via the bugle in the field.

1 Lieutenant - responsible for the direct command of one Half Company, of two sections, in action. 

1 Subaltern (2nd Lieutenant) - responsible for the other Half Company, of two sections, in action.  

4 Sergeants - commanding a single section of 24 Riflemen. 

4 Corporals - second in command of a section. 

96 Riflemen and Lance Corporals - following orders.  

 

The Cast of Characters   

OFFICERS 

David Peter Roberts DSO - Major, Officer Commanding, No 3 Company, 3rd Battalion, Royal American Rifles. 

Tall and handsome and of gentlemanly bearing, David is clean shaven and has retained the piercing blue eyes of his youth despite his blond hair fading to a muddy colour.  

A scholarship boy from rural Derbyshire, Major Roberts performed rather well at Sandhurst, graduating second in his class, but was barred from entry to prestigious Cavalry or Guards Regiments by his lack of financial and social standing. David was offered and excepted commission in the Royal American Rifles and has grown quite a reputation in the Regiment. Major (then Captain) Roberts gained a reputation as a combat leader in the recent (2nd Afghan War) fighting in Afghanistan under Major Ashburnham.  

At Sandhurst he became quite a noted sportsman, in particular, a swordsman of the first class and is currently under a cloud from carving up the son of a prominent New York Colonial politician in a duel. His being volunteered (there are many ways to volunteer in the army) for this mission is related to the wrath and influence of the Colonial politician.  David has married well to Millicent, the daughter of a successful businessman involved in shipping and railways. His connections having saved him from dismissal from service at the urging of the disgruntled partition.  

Robert Stephen van Rensselaer – Lieutenant, No 3 Company, 3rd Battalion, Royal American Rifles. 

Stephen is quite short with dark wavy hair and a well cared for moustache. Robert has a winning smile and a relaxed charm that women find attractive. 

From a well placed New York family, Robert has tried to make his way outside of his family's influence (after a family disagreement in the distant past). An efficient officer, Robert has established himself as part of the company and is respected by his men. Robert's goal in life is to rise to command his own Battalion and perhaps go on to a General's rank, although he is disgusted by political machinations that would almost certainly be required for such a command.  

He is something of a charmer with a demonstrated eye for the ladies. Indeed, Robert was volunteered for this mission because of his well known reputation as a lady's man and the disruption that he could potentially cause to the mission. Oddly, he is intimidated by Ladies and wears his Don Juan act as a protective armour against this weakness. This is not going to be a comfortable mission for poor Robert.   

(The Lord) William Herbert Howard – 2nd Lieutenant, No 3 Company, 3rd Battalion, Royal American Rifles. 

The younger son of 1st Duke of Cumbria.

Rather short and looking far younger than his 21 years, William has brown hair and grey eyes. 

Young and fresh to the Battalion, 2 Lt. Howard actually volunteered for this mission of his own accord, despite being strongly advised against it by the Commanding Officer. William is an idealist and wants to make the Empire safe for Her Majesty's subjects. He sees his privileged upbringing as a tool for the improving the world around him. His opting for a military career came as a surprise to all of his friends and family, growing up, his friends always saw him as more of a candidate for the clergy than the army. Despite this, William is a good, if inexperienced officer.

Company Sergeant Major and SNCOs 

Archibald Spalding VC, DCM - WO2, Company Sergeant Major, No 3 Company, 3rd Battalion, Royal American Rifles. 

A squarish man of middling height and a notably bristling mustache. The Sergeant Major has short cropped greying, dark hair and brown eyes. 

Unusual amongst the enlisted men of the Royal Americans, Sergeant Major Spalding is a native of Oxfordshire, England, he makes much of his accent, common manners and mode of speech, dropping his aitches and replacing are with is (You is in lumber now my lad!) to appear more down-to-earth. Sergeant Major Spalding is noted throughout the army for his exploits on the North West Frontier where he won the VC as a young Corporal. The Sergeant Major is very well aware of the need for his character to overwhelm the fears and trepidations of the enlisted men in combat and so always portrays himself in a gruff, fanatically regimental character (apart from when alone with the OC or his Sergeants).   

John Ansell DCM – Sergeant, No 3 Company, 3rd Battalion, Royal American Rifles. 

A mid to tall young man of light build, John has light brown hair and hazel eyes. John sometimes wears a mustache (as the mood or prevailing fashion takes him), but never a beard. 

John comes from Buffalo, New York, he is youngest Sergeant in the Battalion. Sgt. Ansell has the unfortunate reputation of being "a bit of a nutter" from both his military and his romantic exploits. His reputation has grown a little larger than life because, not only does his sense of humour have no limits, but he is also up for the most insane of risks should there be a need. This mission could almost have been tailor made for Sgt Ansell. 

John fits in well with Lt. van Rensselaer, both being career minded risk takers. Like his boss, John is no great stranger to a slapped face from female entanglements. He has no fear of heights and is really looking forward to actually flying.   

Andrew Fox DCM – Sergeant, No 3 Company, 3rd Battalion, Royal American Rifles. 

Sgt Fox is a tall, strongly but not massively built man, he is clean shaven and has brown hair and blue eyes. A native of Boston, Andrew is a softly spoken and a relatively friendly, fatherly figure to his men. Sgt. Fox was volunteered by the Colonel to watch over the young 2Lt. Howard.

He is a brave and resourceful soldier, but the attribute that gained him this job was that he is risk averse and is expected to be able to keep the young gentleman alive in any action and preferably out of any other kinds of trouble that may present themselves.  

 The details of Naval personnel and various villains to follow shortly.