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The British Infantry Barracks in Crater
Infantry Barracks1874-5
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.
The
long wall follows the water course which runs down from
the Tawila Tanks.
Sirah Island rear left
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
Read more on
Page 2
1
'Patcheries' is a term brought 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. |
