Skeleton Army: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

The Skeleton Army was a group that opposed the open-air marches of the anti-alcohol Salvation Army in the 19th century. The Salvation Army's enemies hired thugs to disrupt, any way they could, Salvation Army meetings and gatherings. Usual tactics used by this army were throwing rocks, rats, and tar, and physically assaulting members of The Salvation Army at these meetings.

In April 1884 the owner of a liquor shop in Worthing objected to Salvation Army criticism of alcohol. Black, sticky tar was put onto alley walls which damaged Salvation Army uniforms as they marched past. The Army continued to witness. A "Skeleton Army" of 4,000 formed intending to disrupt open air meetings. The "Skeletons" recognized each other by various insignia. Captain Ada Smith lead those who faced the "Skeletons". The Skeletons threw eggs filled with blue paint at the “Sally Army” and many in the town approved. General Booth wanted police protection for the Salvation Army. The Home Secretary, Sir William Harcourt said it was outside his jurisdiction. Captain Ada Smith of the Salvation Army and her group were ordered to march on Sundays.

On Sunday, 17 August 1884 the police, the Salvation Army and the Skeletons confronted each other. For an hour the police kept the peace. Then the Skeletons rioted. The area was filled with screaming men, brick dust and broken glass. The Salvationists returned to their, "Barracks" and the Skeletons tried to burn it down. The landlord, Mr George Head defended his property and the people there with a revolver wounding some Skeletons. He was charged at Court for this.

George Scott Railton, by contrast, claimed the Skeleton Army first started in Weston-super-Mare in 1881.

The 'Bethnal Green Eastern Post' (November 1882) stated

A genuine rabble of "roughs" pure and unadulterated has been infesting the district for several weeks past. These vagabonds style themselves the 'Skeleton Army'.... The 'skeletons' have their collectors and their collecting sheets and one of them was thrust into my hands... it contained a number shopkeepers' names... I found that publicans, beersellers and butchers are subscribing to this imposture... the collector told me that the object of the skeleton army was to put down the Salvationists by following them about everywhere, by beating a drum and burlesquing their songs, to render the conduct of their processions and services impossible... Amongst the skeleton rabble there is a large percentage of the most consummate loafers and unmitigated blackguards London can produce...worthy of the disreputable class of publicans who hate the London school board, education and temperance, and who, seeing the beginning of the end of their immoral trafic, and prepared for the most desparate enterprise.

Reference and External Source

• THE SKELETON ARMY
• The Skeleton Army