The effect of the alteration in the proportion of officers in the various ranks is very distinctly shown by Colonel Miller in his pamphlet. Previous to the change, the proportion of company to field officers had been as 21 to 1; now it became as 8½ to 1.
The following tables show (1) the establishment and cost of the Regiment in 1782 prior to the introduction of the new system; and (2) the proposed establishment, which came into force on the 30th November, 1782. The number of company officers—five per company—then fixed, remains, to this day, unchanged in the Horse and Field Artillery; but a subaltern per company or battery in the Garrison Artillery was reduced by the late Secretary of State for War, thus further improving the proportions of the field and company officers:—
1782.—Present Establishment of the Royal Regiment
of Artillery.
| Field and Staff Officers. | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay per diem. | Pay per annum. | ||||||||
| £ | s. | d. | £ | s. | d. | ||||
| The Master-General of the Ordnance. Colonel. | |||||||||
| The Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance. | |||||||||
| Lieutenant-Colonel. | |||||||||
| 4 | Colonels-Commandant | 44s. each. | 8 | 16 | 0 | 3212 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | Lieutenant-Colonels | 20s. each. | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1460 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | Majors | 15s. each. | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1095 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | Adjutants | 5s. each. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 365 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | Surgeon-General | 0 | 8 | 0 | 146 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 4 | Surgeons' Mates | 3s. 6d. each. | 0 | 14 | 0 | 255 | 10 | 0 | |
| 4 | Quartermasters | 6s. each. | 1 | 4 | 0 | 438 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | Bridge-master | 0 | 5 | 0 | 91 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 4 | Chaplains | 6s. 8d. each. | 1 | 6 | 8 | 486 | 13 | 4 | |
| 1 | Apothecary-General | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 31 | —— | ||||||||
| Master-General's Company of Gentlemen Cadets. | |||||||||
| 1 | Captain | 1 | 6 | 0 | 474 | 10 | 0 | ||
| 1 | Captain-Lieutenant | 0 | 6 | 0 | 109 | 10 | 0 | ||
| 1 | First Lieutenant | 0 | 5 | 0 | 91 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2 | Second Lieutenants | 4s. each. | 0 | 8 | 0 | 146 | 0 | 0 | |
| 60 | Gentlemen Cadets | 2s. 6d. each. | 7 | 10 | 0 | 2737 | 10 | 0 | |
| 1 | Drum-Major | 0 | 1 | 4 | 24 | 6 | 8 | ||
| 1 | Fife-Major | 0 | 1 | 4 | 24 | 6 | 8 | ||
| 67 | —— | ||||||||
| Company of Artillery. | |||||||||
| 1 | Captain | 0 | 10 | 0 | 182 | 10 | 0 | ||
| 1 | Captain-Lieutenant | 0 | 6 | 0 | 109 | 10 | 0 | ||
| 2 | First Lieutenants | 5s. each. | 0 | 10 | 0 | 182 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2 | Second Lieutenant | 4s. each. | 0 | 8 | 0 | 146 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | Sergeants | 2s. each. | 0 | 8 | 0 | 146 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | Corporals | 1s. 10d. each. | 0 | 7 | 4 | 133 | 16 | 0 | |
| 9 | Bombardiers | 1s. 8d. each. | 0 | 15 | 0 | 273 | 15 | 0 | |
| 18 | Gunners | 1s. 4d. each. | 1 | 4 | 0 | 438 | 0 | 0 | |
| 73 | Matrosses | 1s. each. | 3 | 13 | 0 | 1332 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2 | Drummers | 1s. each. | 0 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 10 | 0 | |
| 116 | —— | ||||||||
| 1044 | Nine Companies more the same | 73 | 10 | 0 | 26827 | 10 | 0 | ||
| For service in Jamaica. | |||||||||
| 116 | One Company more the same | 8 | 3 | 4 | 2980 | 16 | 8 | ||
| SECOND BATTALION. | |||||||||
| 1160 | Ten Companies of Artillery the same as the 1st | 81 | 13 | 4 | 29808 | 6 | 8 | ||
| THIRD BATTALION. | |||||||||
| 1160 | Ten Companies of Artillery as above | 81 | 13 | 4 | 29808 | 6 | 8 | ||
| FOURTH BATTALION. | |||||||||
| 1160 | Ten Companies of Artillery as above | 81 | 13 | 4 | 29808 | 6 | 8 | ||
| A FIFTH BATTALION OF INVALIDS. | |||||||||
| Field and Staff Officers. | |||||||||
| 1 | Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant | 1 | 0 | 0 | 365 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1 | Major | 0 | 15 | 0 | 273 | 15 | 0 | ||
| 1 | Adjutant | 0 | 5 | 0 | 91 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 3 | —— | ||||||||
| Company of Invalids. | |||||||||
| 1 | Captain | 0 | 10 | 0 | 182 | 10 | 0 | ||
| 1 | First Lieutenant | 0 | 5 | 0 | 91 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 1 | Second Lieutenant | 0 | 4 | 0 | 73 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1 | Sergeant | 0 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 10 | 0 | ||
| 1 | Corporal | 0 | 1 | 10 | 33 | 9 | 2 | ||
| 1 | Drummer | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 3 | Bombardiers | 1s. 8d. each. | 0 | 5 | 0 | 91 | 5 | 0 | |
| 6 | Gunners | 1s. 4d. each. | 0 | 8 | 0 | 146 | 0 | 0 | |
| 36 | Matrosses | 1s. each. | 1 | 16 | 0 | 657 | 0 | 0 | |
| 51 | —— | ||||||||
| 459 | Nine Companies more the same | 32 | 15 | 6 | 11962 | 17 | 6 | ||
| ———— | |||||||||
| 5367 | |||||||||
1782—Proposed Establishment of the Royal Regiment
of Artillery.
| Field and Staff Officers. | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay per diem. | Pay per annum. | ||||||||
| £ | s. | d. | £ | s. | d. | ||||
| Master-General of the Ordnance. Colonel. | |||||||||
| Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance. | |||||||||
| Colonel, second. | |||||||||
| 4 | Colonel-Commandants | 44s. each. | 8 | 16 | 0 | 3,212 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | Second Colonels | 24s. each. | 4 | 16 | 0 | 1,752 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | Lieutenant-Colonels | 20s. each. | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1,460 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | Second Lieutenant-Colonels | 17s. each. | 3 | 8 | 0 | 1,241 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | Majors | 15s. each. | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1,095 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | Second Majors | 15s. each. | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1,095 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | Adjutants | 5s. each. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 365 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | Surgeon-General | 0 | 8 | 0 | 146 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 4 | Surgeon's Mates | 3s. 6d. each. | 0 | 14 | 0 | 255 | 10 | 0 | |
| 4 | Quartermasters | 6s. each. | 1 | 4 | 0 | 438 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | Brigade-Major | 0 | 5 | 0 | 91 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 4 | Chaplains | 6s. 8d. each. | 1 | 6 | 8 | 486 | 13 | 4 | |
| 42 | —— | ||||||||
| Master-General's Company of Gentlemen Cadets. | |||||||||
| 1 | Captain | 1 | 6 | 0 | 474 | 10 | 0 | ||
| 1 | Captain-Lieutenant | 0 | 6 | 0 | 109 | 10 | 0 | ||
| 1 | First Lieutenant | 0 | 5 | 0 | 91 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2 | Second Lieutenants | 4s. each. | 0 | 8 | 0 | 146 | 0 | 0 | |
| 60 | Gentlemen Cadets | 2s. 6d. each. | 7 | 10 | 0 | 2,737 | 10 | 0 | |
| 1 | Drum-Major | 0 | 1 | 4 | 24 | 6 | 8 | ||
| 1 | Fife-Major | 0 | 1 | 4 | 24 | 6 | 8 | ||
| 67 | —— | ||||||||
| Company of Artillery. | |||||||||
| 1 | Captain | 0 | 10 | 0 | 182 | 10 | 0 | ||
| 1 | Captain-Lieutenant | 0 | 6 | 0 | 109 | 10 | 0 | ||
| 2 | First Lieutenants | 5s. each. | 0 | 10 | 0 | 182 | 10 | 0 | |
| 1 | Second Lieutenant | 0 | 4 | 0 | 73 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 4 | Sergeants | 2s. each. | 0 | 8 | 0 | 146 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | Corporals | 1s. 10d. each. | 0 | 7 | 4 | 133 | 6 | 8 | |
| 9 | Bombardiers | 1s. 8d. each. | 0 | 15 | 0 | 273 | 15 | 0 | |
| 18 | Gunners | 1s. 4d. each. | 1 | 4 | 0 | 438 | 0 | 0 | |
| 73 | Matrosses | 1s. each. | 3 | 13 | 0 | 1,332 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2 | Drummers | 1s. each. | 0 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 10 | 0 | |
| 115 | —— | ||||||||
| 1035 | Nine Companies more the same | 71 | 14 | 0 | 26,170 | 10 | 0 | ||
| ———— | |||||||||
| 1259 | |||||||||
| For service in Jamaica. | |||||||||
| 115 | One Company more the same | 7 | 19 | 6 | 2,907 | 16 | 8 | ||
| SECOND BATTALION. | |||||||||
| 1150 | Ten Companies of Artillery the same as the 1st | 79 | 13 | 4 | 29,078 | 6 | 8 | ||
| THIRD BATTALION. | |||||||||
| 1150 | Ten Companies of Artillery as above | 79 | 13 | 4 | 29,078 | 6 | 8 | ||
| FOURTH BATTALION. | |||||||||
| 1150 | Ten Companies of Artillery as above | 73 | 13 | 4 | 29,078 | 6 | 8 | ||
| FIFTH BATTALION—INVALIDS. | |||||||||
| Field and Staff Officers. | |||||||||
| 1 | Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant | 1 | 0 | 0 | 365 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1 | Major | 0 | 15 | 0 | 273 | 15 | 0 | ||
| 1 | Adjutant | 0 | 5 | 0 | 91 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 3 | —— | ||||||||
| Company of Invalids. | |||||||||
| 1 | Captain | 0 | 10 | 0 | 182 | 10 | 0 | ||
| 1 | First Lieutenant | 0 | 5 | 0 | 91 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 1 | Second Lieutenant | 0 | 4 | 0 | 73 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1 | Sergeant | 0 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 10 | 0 | ||
| 1 | Corporal | 0 | 1 | 10 | 33 | 9 | 2 | ||
| 1 | Drummer | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 3 | Bombardiers | 1s. 8d. each. | 0 | 5 | 0 | 91 | 15 | 0 | |
| 6 | Gunners | 1s. 4d. each. | 0 | 8 | 0 | 146 | 0 | 0 | |
| 36 | Matrosses | 1s. each. | 1 | 16 | 0 | 657 | 0 | 0 | |
| 51 | —— | ||||||||
| 459 | Nine Companies more the same | 32 | 15 | 6 | 11,962 | 17 | 6 | ||
| ———— | ——— | —— | —— | ——————— | —— | —— | |||
| 5337 | £406 | 16 | 4 | 148,488 | 1 | 8 | |||
| ——— | —— | —— | ——————— | —— | —— | ||||
| Proposed Establishment | £148,488 | 1 | 8 |
| Present Establishment | 147,393 | 1 | 8 |
| ———————— | — | — | |
| Increase | £ 1,095 | 0 | 0 |
With the Peace of 1783 came a reduction in the Regiment from 5337 of all ranks to 3302, with a saving to the country of the difference between 148,488l. 1s. 8d., the cost of the old establishment, and 110,570l. 13s. 4d., the cost of the new. But the reduction and the saving were not effected at once. Every allowance was made for existing claims and interests; and for the first year after the Peace of Versailles, a charge was allowed of 129,373l. 11s. Two schemes were submitted by the Board for carrying out the required reductions: one left the number of non-commissioned officers untouched; the other reduced it by one-half and spared the privates, who now were to receive the title of gunner universally, that of matross being abolished. The first scheme was approved, but only as a temporary measure, and many of the details were left optional to the captains of companies. In the words of the Royal warrant, "If in any company the commanding officer and captain should choose to keep all the four sergeants, the four corporals, the nine bombardiers, and the eighteen gunners, he will of course have but twenty-two matrosses to retain, and must discharge the remainder, as each company is to consist only of sixty men, whether non-commissioned officers or privates (including three contingent men), besides the two drummers, so that a company wishing to preserve its present sergeants, corporals, bombardiers, and gunners, will be composed of as follows, viz.:—