Just a note on the Purchase system for officers. Even today, there's no Royal Army, only Royal regiments, as against Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. One has to remember the origins of the British Army, Cromwell's Commonwealth. His Army laid down their arms in front of the restored King Charles II and then picked them up again.
The Purchase system was a deposit against the loyal and good political behaviour of the officers. In 1751, I think, personal emblems of the Colonels were banned on regimental colours. By 1775, say, Purchase was no longer necessary. Being Britain outmoded habits survived.
Wherever money is concerned there's opportunity for corruption and there was corruption. Lord Cardigan no doubt paid a premium (to the previous colonel) as well as the statutory amount to Government for colonelcy of the 11th Hussars. Then he spent a small fortune on improved quality uniforms including the 'cherrybum' trousers out of his own pocket.
Sometimes, outstanding men were made officers without Purchase, or existing officers promoted without purchase price differential.
One bad case was Rorke's Drift. Colour Sergeant Bourne DCM, B Coy, 2nd Battalion, 24th South Warwickshire Regiment. He was offered a commission after the battle but had to decline because couldn't afford to purchase a commission.
Added: He was a long liver, ended up a colonel, and gave his account on BBC Radio. A transcription has survived and is on You Tube in two parts. Well worth reading.
He mentioned a lot of interesting information. It wasn't 3,000 or 20,000 Zulu's who attacked. Bourne reckoned them at about 700.
