Before the establishment of the Army Pay Department in 1878, the financial side of the soldier's service was administered almost without system, this being carried out for the greater part according to the whim or skill of each commanding officer. So many people "had a finger in the pie" in handling the soldier's pay that the wonder is that any ever reached him at all, whilst the loss to the nation was enormous. After the abolition of the system under which each Colonel paid his men or did not, as he thought fit, Army Agents were made more or less responsible for paying the troops, and these appointed their own paymasters in each regiment. This system was open to abuse, and the troops suffered until the whole system of pay was taken over by the War Office and the Pay Department established. This Department also took over the payment for all the needs of the regiments and corps, and so well has it arranged its duties that every man in the army is now sure of every penny due to him, whilst the nation has been saved vast sums by preventing fraud and overcharging. Nicknames: "The Quill Drivers" and "The Ink Slingers." [Illustration] _Uniform_, Blue. _Facings_, Red. _Head-dress_, Helmet. _Cap_, Red. MILITARY POLICE The formation of this Corps is comparatively a recent one, for until the year 1880 police duties in times of peace were discharged regimentally, and in times of war by more or less haphazard detachments under selected officers known as Provost Marshals. The formation of the Military Mounted and Foot Police, however, placed this important work on more solid and organised foundations, and in war and peace the members of the Corps discharge, in a most efficient manner, a large variety of important duties few are aware of. The policing of camps, lines of communication, supply bases and other important centres is only part of their work, which include the custody of prisoners of war, the safeguarding of general officers, and the execution of spies and other condemned prisoners. Nickname: "The Red Caps." [Illustration] "Gibraltar." Motto: _Per Mare, per Terram_ (By Sea or Land). _Uniform_, Royal Marine Artillery, Blue; Royal Marine Light Infantry, Scarlet. _Facings_, Royal Marine Artillery, Scarlet; Royal Marine Light Infantry, Blue. ROYAL MARINES