Figure 1.-- |
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British Army Officers initially took members of their own household staff with them when they went to fight in order that they had someone cook, clean and generally tend to them. These were not slaves (although not far off from that in many cases) but Servants in paid employ. Valets and
sometimes Butlers would attend. These were the days when the aristocracy formed the Officer class. Later the Army appointed Batmen, a form of Steward, to fulfil the needs of Officers.
This was not just a British phenomenon. I suspect the same was true in other European armies, although I have little information about this subject.
George Washington had a black slave with him throughout the Revolutionary War. And we note Civil War Condereate officers with slave boy servants.
This was a peculiarly Army thing as the Royal Navy and Royal Flying Corps (later to become the Royal Air
Force) Officers never took their own staff but relied upon Stewards employed by the Services to look after their needs in their Officer Messes. Lower ranks also had Mess Staff but as ranks increased the level of service corresponded. I am not yet sure about the ages of batmen. Nowadays "Batting" is an in-house phrase to refer to
domestic/cleaning staff in the Mess and even the most senior Officers have
to do without a morning wake up, ironed newspaper, fresh cup of tea and
prepared uniform. It is possible to get some things done but many of the
eccentricities and overly lavish luxuries have long gone unless you happen
to be a key member of the Royal Family and even they have to provide their
own staff and would not get such treatment on the front line.
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