A Professional Soldier

The son of a gardener James Duncan enlisted in the 17th Lancers in 1842. Promoted from the ranks during the winter hell of the Crimean War he went on to fight in the Indian Mutiny before becoming the Fort-Major of Edinburgh Castle and retiring as an Honorary Colonel. 'A Professional Soldier' examines the everyday existence of a 19th century cavalryman as he rises through the ranks from Private to Colonel. Exploring the routines drills tactics and ideals which would have made up Duncan's daily life and defined him as a career soldier at peace and at war. Along the way hopefully proving that many Victorian soldiers were not blunderers but professional soldiers.