Garrison life in Victorian Halifax: Public houses

Soldiers and beer! This was the lot of your average soldier in the garrison.
Alexander Keith, who was a major brewer, make a lucrative business suppling the British Army with India Pale Ale, and other beers to thirsty soldier.
Since Halifax was an important seaport for trade, RUM was also a major source of jollification.
However, as is usually the case, drink and vice came hand in hand.

Most of the historical information found in this posting comes from my reenacting experience as part of the Halifax Citadel Regimental Association, portraying a 78th Highlander, and 3rd Brigade Royal Artillery gunner. As well, Cuthbertson's The Halifax Citadel: Portrait of a Military Fortress (Formac, Halifax, 2001)

One of the more interesting stories we would tell the public while working as a 78th Highlander and RA gunner, was the fact that soldiers would get involved in brawls. The soldier belt, the one we had to constantly buff up with whitner, and polish the brass on, was used as a nasty little weapon in brawls.

To combat this, Oland and Sons, established breweries supplying beer to the army and navy for their messes and smoking rooms. By doing this, the officers were better able to control their soliders and sailors.