Napoleon's rash occupation of Spain in 1808 provoked rebellion and brought a British army on the scene. Most of its soldiers were sorry to find themselves there, and the comfort of the pipe clearly meant much to them. A privates diary entry gives a hint on how they manage to survive :
"Weather unfavourable and harassing. Winter fast approaching. On piquet every other night we make large fires and contrive to stupify (sic) ourselves with brandy and tobacco"
In Restoration England smoking was forbidden on English war-ships, "except over a Tub of Water", but finds in Tobermory Museum on the island of Mull - from the wrecked ship of a flotilla sent to the west coast of Scotland after the revolution of 1688 to make it clear that William and Mary were now on the throne-include a clay pipe. William III's arch enemy Louise XIV, though no smoker, took care that every soldier should have his pipe and briquette, or lighter, and his endless wars made smoking a permanent habit of the French army. Napoleon had a special pipe designed as a prize for grenadiers who distinguished themselves, pipes could be a treasured possession in the ranks.
A Times correspondent writing about the Turkish army with the force on the Transcaucasian front described a lavish distribution of decorations; everyone supposed to have been in action expected one, whether he had in fact done anything or not. Many went to chibukjis, pipe-bearers of senior officers, a service for which reliable men were needed.
An officer of any rank, when his troops are going into action, has his carpet spread upon the ground they are about to leave, dismounts from his horse, squats down, calls for his pipe, wishes his men God speed, and endeavours, more or less successfully, to deaden terror by the soothing influence of tobacco. The chibouque-jee, compelled by respect to stand behind his master, is of course, far more exposed to danger. (The Times, 18 February 1856)