OFFICERS’ WIVES GET PUDDING AND PIES: SOLDIERS’ WIVES GET SKILLY by Donal Kennedy

That’s according to the old British Army story. You might well believe it. Particularly, if like me, you bother checking old newspapers.

For instance there was an interesting Editorial in THE TIMES of London on 11 April 1912. The previous day the Labour Leader, Keir Hardie, proposed in the House of Commons that soldiers be excused from being used against trade unionists during industrial disputes. He had no backers whatever in the House. THE TIMES laughed to scorn the notion that soldiers might pick and choosewhich orders they might obey and which they might refuse to obey.

On the afternoon of 11 April 1912 RMS TITANIC sailed from Cobh. Perhaps some passengers had copies of the paper. Some might even have read the Editorial with approval. Particularly if they were not travelling steerage. Commissioned Officers in the British Forces had the privilege of choosing which orders to obey and which to disobey. And, when on ocean liners would never travel steerage, unlike other ranks.

And just as other ranks’ wives ate skilly, steerage passengers were not provided with sufficient lifeboats.