"British Army organization" Topic

I'm looking for numbers down to the company/troop/battery size during the 1870s to the end of the Second Boer War. I haven't found what I'm looking for online other than generic 1,000 men per battalion/8 companies. Etc. Can someone enlighten meM Thank you!

Covering your period and a little bit more – from a Journal by "The South African Military History Society" – Article profiles Colonial and Imperial forces
link

This article on the Anglo-Boer War will cover the end of your period
link

Note comments about changes and Comments by Lord Roberts related to adding Mounted Infantry and expected changes

Awesome! Thank you! That helped a lot with the colonial troops, but it doesn't given any information on the British imperial units in terms of (MTOE, in modern parlance) strength for the earlier campaigns.

All of the Authorised Establishments will be in the National Archives at Kew, in the WO24 Series for Infantry and Cavalry plus the WO55 Series for Artillery and Engineers, but I don't know of any book summarising them.

Perhaps I wasn't clear. I'm not looking for roll call or staff report numbers. I'm just looking for a round estimate. If a battalion was 1,000 men, is it reasonable to assume a company (if it was at full strength) would be around 120 men?

I agree with Rod that the National Archives at Kew will be a gold mine, especially if you are in the UK and can get there. It does have some material online though. -
link

The National Army Museum also has some items available online. -
collection.nam.ac.uk/inventory

Alternatively, pursuing individual regimental histories may reveal the lower level structures you seek.

This link to the 24th 2nd Warwickshire regiment was interesting in that it reports the typically high number of hospitalisations that was typical of units based overseas, so it gives an insight into effective strength rather than potential on paper numbers. The 24th was a Garrison at Malta but was also present at Rorke's drift and Isandhlwana. -
link

This roll call from Rorke's drift also provides some detail of 1st and 2nd companies of the 24th. -
link

It's worth noting that during the period you specify, there were the Cardwell and Childers reforms of the British army. Not sure if these really impacted the basic regimental structure but it might be worth more research. -
link

The formation of two-battalion regiments across the line in 1881 was intended to ensure that the battalion on service abroad could be brought up to strength from the battalion at home.
In some regiments, however, the two battalions attempted to maintain their original pre-Childers identities, but how that affected posting between the two, I'm not sure.

The History of 2nd Battalion 5th Northumberland Fusiliers Regiment gives several 'real' and 'on the paper' Establishment strength, and even the number of wives children and female servants following the battalion

link

Establishment 1st april then 24th august 1870 – 600 then 800 men in 10 companies
I think it is quite easy to understand how many men for each 10 companies and the rest with HQ Regimental Staff

1 Lieutenant Colonel
1 Major
10 Captains
10 Lieutenants
4 Ensigns
1 Paymaster
1 Adjutant
1 Quartermaster

1 Sergeant-Major
1 Trained Bandmaster
1 Quartermaster Sergeant
1 Paymaster-Sergeant
1 Armourer-Sergeant
1 Sergeant Instructor of Musketry
1 Hospital-Sergeant
1 Sergeant-Cook
1 Orderly-Room-Clerk
10 Color-Sergeants
30 Sergeants
1 Drum-Major

20 Drummers
40 Corporals
460 then 760 Rank and File
1 Attached Surgeon
1 Attached Assistant Surgeon

in 1872 in Ireland there were only 552 men (more 121 wives and children)

in 1878 the Establishment passed to 1095 all ranks then 915

On the 1st January, 1887, the strength of the Battalion was 2 Warrant Officers, 44 Sergeants, 44 Corporals, 16 Drummers, 905 Privates ;
Nationalities : English, 829 ; Scotch, 52 ; Irish, 118 ; India and Colonies, 10.

in 1888 the Establishment was fixed to 1012 all ranks and the same in 1891

1889. On the 1st of January the strength was : -Warrant Officers, 2 ; Sergeants, 49 ; Drummers, 16 ; Corporals, 41 ; Privates, 998.
Nationalities :-English, 923 ; Scotch, 43 ; Irish, 130 ; Indian and Colonial, 6 ; Foreign, 2.

1891. On the 1st January, the strength of the Battalion was :-Warrant-Officers, 2 ; Sergeants, 50 ; Drummers, 16; Corporals, 42 ; Privates, 999.
Nationalities :-English, 966 ; Scotch, 23 ; Irish, 114 ; India and Colonies, 4.

1895. On the 1st January, the strength of the Battalion was as follows :-Warrant Officers, 2; Sergeants, 45 ; Drummers, 16 ; Corporals, 39 ; Privates, 866.
Nationalities :-English, 841 ; Scotch, 26 ; Irish, 109 ; Indian and Colonial, 11.

Can anyone tell me what the facing colours of the 44th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry were? I'm stuck as I have a picture of an 1820s officer with facings, a number and design on the belt-plate that does not correspond with that of the British regular or Militia Regiment with the same number.

Many thanks.