Esprit de Corps: Regimental Journals and Belonging

‘Esprit de corps’ is a concept that is deep embedded in the psyche of the British Army. It is a term which is closely linked to ideas of community and belonging, and which has ties to the regimental system which developed in the British Army from the seventeenth century onwards. From their founding, regiments worked to create distinct identities. Regimental journals, which appeared from the 1860s, were a fundamental tool for the creation and circulation of that identity and to cementing ‘esprit de corps’. This article will explore how and why regimental journals built and promoted community, belonging, and collective memory, as well as their role in supporting morale and discipline. It will question how successful these periodicals were in meeting those aims, and will also recognise their complicated position that straddled the line between professional, community and lifestyle publication, reflecting the reality of military life during this period.