The commandant's house at Charles Fort in Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland. It had displays with details of British army life in the 1600's. Soldiers joined FOR LIFE. Only 6% were allowed to marry and those were chosen by lot by the officers. The wives lived in the barracks with their husbands, usually 8 to 10 men to a room with the wife sharing her husband's space . . . none extra given to the wife. She was not fed unless she worked for her meals, usually in the laundry. You can only imagine how hard a life they left behind to find this existence an improvement.

The commandant's house at Charles Fort in Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland. It had displays with details of British army life in the 1600's. Soldiers joined FOR LIFE. Only 6% were allowed to marry and those were chosen by lot by the officers. The wives lived in the barracks with their husbands, usually 8 to 10 men to a room with the wife sharing her husband's space . . . none extra given to the wife. She was not fed unless she worked for her meals, usually in the laundry. You can only imagine how hard a life they left behind to find this existence an improvement.