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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: dorothy on Monday 20 May 19 13:01 BST (UK)
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I just discovered in some army pension records My husbands Grandfather who was in the Royal Horse Artillery was first imprisoned by CO in April then Awaiting trial then tried and imprisoned in May 1900 but then back on duty in July 1900. Will there be any records of the trial and what he was charged with?
Also he went to India in 1901 and returned 1902 would he have received a medal for this? We have his medals from WW1 but no other medals
Many thanks
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Also he went to India in 1901 and returned 1902 would he have received a medal for this? We have his medals from WW1 but no other medals
Depending on how long and where he served, he might have been entitled to the India Medal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_Medal
Philip
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Many thanks for this
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If you have his service record it will be on his conduct sheet. Would you like to give his name?
MaxD
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This may help:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/courts-martial-desertion-british-army-17th-20th-centuries/
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Be aware that a CO could try a man summarily (ie not at a court martial) and impose sentences of up to 90 days imprisonment (in serious cases). Records of summary hearings will not appear in the central records.
MaxD
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Thanks MaxD I thought that might be the case.
Thank you everyone for your help
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Dorothy
Are you sure that his record doesn't have any clue to what his offence may have been? Are there entries preceding the ones that you quote recording perhaps absence or an offence under civil law (which is an offence itself under military law).
What battery was he in when he went to India, this may tell us what he was likely to have been involved in.
MaxD
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Hi the record states:
Imprisoned by OC 14 April 00 14 days
To duty as Driver 28 April 00
Awaiting Trail 12 May 00 2 days
Tried and imprisoned 14 May 00
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Sorry message didn't get finished
Hi the record states:
Imprisoned by OC 14 April 00 14 days
To duty as Driver 28 April 00
Awaiting Trail 12 May 00 2 days
Tried and imprisoned 14 May 00 56 days
To Duty Driver 9 July 00
No reasons given
After being in India he was then discharged as medically unfit 29 April 02 character fair
He was in Royal Horse Artillery s battery on the 1901 census and on his attestation papers for WW1 it states he was in E battery and served in Mhow India previously
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Much prefer to look at the original for clues but perhaps you don't wish to post his name?
MaxD
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Hi Sorry it is John Adolphus Merrett born 1881 Paddington
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From his early service there is indeed no evidence as to his offences. However, they wouldn't have been absence as this would have resulted in him "losing" days from his possible pension calculation and that would be recorded. The closeness of the two offences and the increase in punishment suggest (guesswork) something like disobedience of an order. A few odd thoughts. His time in S Battery was in Aldershot. E Battery didn't get involved in his time in any of the small engagements that merited the India medal and he doesn't appear on the India medal roll.
You will have seen his efforts at joining again for the Great War. 11 August 1914 to 10 October 1914 in the Royal Field Artillery- discharged "not likely to become an efficient soldier".
Quick nip round the corner to the Royal Fusiliers where he signs on 21 Oct 1914 and serves in UK until 5 Nov 1915, medical discharge 5 Mar 1915.
Back to the RHA where it seems they accepted him happily on 7 April 1915 and serves then until 28 Jul 1916 when he is again discharged unfit.
Persistent if a bit frail in the health department!
MaxD
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He got gassed in his last stint and it affected him and he died in 1929.
We have a photo of him with Ripon South camp written on the back where he was before he was discharged
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Do you know which battery he was serving with when he was gassed? His card records only B Reserve Brigade in UK on whose "books" he would have been when at South camp Ripon convalescent camp for the Royal Artillery.
MaxD
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No idea sorry