In the 18th century very few soldiers could
read or write. Even in the 19th century the Duke of Wellington
opposed schooling for soldiers. But boredom was a huge problem
and soldiers often sought respite through drink. This often
led to unruly behaviour and punishment. Victorian reformers encouraged sport and libraries to alleviate the boredom. But libraries were not a viable option for the large percentage of soldiers who were illiterate. |