"These were the days when you could become an officer just by having enough money to buy your way in. If your father was an officer, it was generally expected that you would also be one. Officers' sons who joined the Rank and File were considered worse than bastards and could often be cut off without a penny. The story of Sharpe could be based on one man, it could be a composite. There certainly were more men making it through the ranks as the Penninsula Campaign progressed, the accounts of promotions being won by acts of bravery/stupidity are 100% accurate, but were more often than not, posthumous."

The conventions of the day with regard to the gentry of those times was generally as follows. The eldest son inherited everything, he then took over as head of the family with the responsibility of looking after everyone else in the family when he came into his inheritance.

The second eldest son was sent to the navy where in time of war there were good opportunities to make money through prize money, both officers and men made fortunes by this method and successful commanders were never short of volunteers to serve under them [The most notable being Cochrane who served in independent command in the Mediterranean - He was so effective Napoleon put a price on his head].

The third son would be purchased a commission in the Army where he would be killed or make a name for himself and ultimately be given some sort of colonial administrative post.

The fourth son would be sent to the church, that living being obtained through the gift, influence or riches of the eldest son.

The line about the sons of serving officers themselves becoming officers is rather fanciful as their fathers would have to be rich enough to purchase their commissions. Sons of officers or gentlemen did join up as common soldiers on the understanding that should gaps appear in regiment's officers due to disease or combat losses then they would step up - the term used to describe such men was "Gentleman Soldier", the 42nd Regiment of Foot [Commonly called "The Black Watch"] had many such men, when it was first raised anyone applying to join had to have two references and they were interviewed, many were turned away. Best opportunities for such promotions were in Regiments sent to places such as the West Indies where tropical disease took it's toll of Officers and men alike.

The principle avenue for promotion from the ranks to officer during the Peninsular War was via Sir William Beresford's Portuguese Army who offered Portuguese commissions to Sergeants serving in the British Army. They also offered promotions to officers serving in the British Army who thought that they could not afford to purchase their own way up the ladder. Beresford's forces proved to be vital and effective allies in support of Wellington's campaigns in Portugal, Spain and finally in France.

Big differences between Cornwell's books and the TV Series:

1. Sharpe was promoted Ensign for saving Wellesley's life at the Battle of Assaye in India, not in Spain.

2. In each of Cornwell's book at the start of each book Sharpe always "needs" something. If memory serves in the first and second books it was a pair of boots and a new pair of trousers he takes these from the corpses of French Officers he kills.

3. Sharpe is from Essex, or London he is not from Yorkshire.

My son met John Tams when he performed at the 2014 Festival of Remembrance and in conversation with John Tams my son said how much he had enjoyed watching the Sharpe Series and Tams portrayal of Daniel Hagman - John Tams was surprised that in 2014 anyone would actually remember it.