The British Infantry Barracks in Crater

 

Infantry Barracks 1874-5

 

The picture below shows part of the British infantry battalion’s barracks in Crater. In the foreground are some of the soldiers’ married quarters, called patcheries1.  The building lower right was the Regimental Sergeant Major’s (RSM’s) quarter and the building behind that the unit pay office. Between the Pay Office and the thatched building (the Sergeants’ Mess) was the quarter of the Schoolmaster.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He and the RSM at that time (c. 1906) were the only two Warrant Officers in a battalion. The Quartermaster’s Stores is to the left of the Sergeants’ Mess. Next to the left is the canteen.  Battalion HQ (a two storey building) is just out of the picture on the right. The Company barrack blocks are out of sight to the left of the photograph, and were in a line facing the sea. 12 o’clock from the Pay Office and the other side of the wall was the small military hospital (the white building).

The 2-storey building on the right is Battalion HQ  (IMAGE TO COME)

 

1 'Patcheries' is a term derived from India and perhaps originating from the expression 'the married patch'. The quarters were better suited for family living than the single men's quarters.