Entries and Discharges 1803-1815 - Duke of York's Royal Military School

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Royal Military Asylum
Entries and discharges for the period 1803 to 1815

Statistical data recorded in the minutes of Board of Commissioners meetings during the 1803 to 1815 period are rounded off. For example, for the opening year (1803) the number of girl entrants is given as 50 and boys as 150 for a total population of 200. The registers for the period have now been analyzed by Mr. Peter Goble, researcher and statistical analyst. He has provided the following tables of data that give specific numbers in contrast with figures given in the Board minutes: in 1803, girls who entered the RMA numbered 52, boys 78, for a total of 130, not the 200 quoted (Document PRO WO 143/6).

Note than in the year of its opening, the Asylum took in forty-three girls and seventeen boys from the Isle of Wight. Goble points out that Table I combines two sources of RMA entrants from the IOW in 1803. This large contingent came from the Army Depot IOW along with those from the military orphanage operated by General Hewitt. Therefore, nine girls and sixty-one boys only entered the RMA from sources other than the IOW in 1803. These other sources included the York Hospital (five girls and ten boys) and the Naval Asylum, Paddington (19 boys). Over the next two years, large contingents of boys and girls entered the Asylum from the IOW Establishment as General Hewett"s operation was known.

The ratio of male to female entrants for the years collated is constant at 2 to 1.

Goble’s analysis provides a clearer and more accurate account of the School population than is to be found in the Board minutes. He also offers information concerning mortality, discharges, numbers apprenticed and volunteers for the Army.

Table 1: RMA student population, transfers, discharges and enlistments during the period 1803 to 1815

Detail	1803	1804	1805	1806	1807	1808	1809	1810	1811	1812	1813	1814	1815

Girls in residence	52	207	303	314	330	356	381	384	471	453	448	466	446
Boys in residence	78	390	624	625	653	687	765	819	934	922	909	990	945
Total children	130	597	927	938	982	1043	1146	1203	1405	1375	1359	1457	1391

Girls transferred from IOW	43	60	27	1	4	7	2	1	12	-	1	2	15
Boys transferred from IOW	17	-	36	1	9	13	8	9	10	-	2	2	25

Total female admissions	52	156	103	30	42	67	55	47	118	60	54	75	41
Total male admissions	78	313	251	94	96	148	159	110	222	133	141	205	119

Infants 5 & under	8	35	9	18	23	19	8	21	11	12	12	19	-

Female deaths	-	2	2	8	7	1	3	2	-	5	2	7	2
Male deaths	-	-	8	4	14	1	6	16	10	7	9	7	-

Desertion/ Runaways	-	-	1	1	1	-	-	1	-	-	-	1	1

Admit RMA sent to IOW	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	-	-	-

Girls discharged	2	6	18	28	40	28	39	43	79	69	57	78	69
Boys discharged	1	6	33	37	88	84	92	172	143	141	124	148	117
Total discharged	1	12	51	65	128	112	131	215	222	210	181	226	186

Female apprentices	-	-	-	2	17	33	30	52	59	58	41	58	58
Male apprentices	-	-	-	2	36	33	30	52	59	58	41	76	58
Army volunteers	-	-	-	18	18	24	28	46	27	45	53	36	29

Table 2 lists the numbers of children who entered the Asylum from regimental units. From this, it is clear that the number of entrants from the battalions of Foot Guards in comparison with other units was exceedingly high. This observation was made at an early Board of Commissioners meeting and steps were taken to make a more equitable selection of applicants from all units.

Table 2: Regimental units of origin of RMA entrants from 1803 to 1815

Regt'l Unit	No. of Entrants
Scots Guards	125

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