The Skeleton Army

The Salvation Army is a Protestant church modelled on pseudo-military lines. It was founded in Victorian London and often protested about the evils of alcohol. And another army arose to fight them.

Skeleton Armies formed in the south of England to fight the Salvationists and their mission. Under a skull and crossbones flag, they attacked Salvation Army marches and damaged “barracks” (churches). In contrast to the Salvationists’ goal of “soup, soap, and salvation” they had “beef, beer, and bacca” – and in contrast the motto “blood and fire” they had “blood and thunder.”

The Salvationists ultimately won: the Salvation Army boasts 1,650,000 members today, whereas the Skeleton Army disappeared in the 1880s.

• Skeleton Army
• Salvation Army