embodiment

[Harlem]

Hi

One of my WW1 ancestors was 'embodied' rather than enlisted or posted. He was subsequently 'disembodied' (officially, that is - not killed in WW1!). Please can someone tell me if being embodied is different from being posted?

Thanks

Harlem's wife

[wendy47]

Hi Harlem's Wife

After I left the forces I spent a number of years on Reserve. Bearing that in mind I found this historical RAF site which uses the term "embodied" about integrating their Auxiliary Squadrons into the Air Force proper.
I believe this refers to Reservists.  Disembodied would be to return to the Auxiliary role.

http://www.611squadronrauxaf.co.uk/history/Brief.html

Best wishes

Nona's Husband

[mmm45]

Hi
Its a Territorial Force Term.If a soldier was embodied he was laible to serve anywhere in the UK.
However he didnt have to serve overseas unless he signed the Imperial Obligation.

Some TF soldiers didnt sign this so were only liable to Home Service..Most did and were given The Imperial Service Badge and proceeded overseas to fight.
It is usually on their Medal Index Card as Disembodied 1919 or thereabouts.

Ady

[km1971]

It comes from way back when the militia were 'called out', ie formed into a body (of men).

Ken

[Harlem]

Thank you to everyone who responded. A few things make sense now. George Henry Walker was in the army in India and served at the Relief of Chitral, then was discharged in 1910. Presumably at that point he went into the reserve. In 1914 he joined up again, and was embodied at that point. He was in the Labour Corps and remained on the home front. I always assumed this was because he was too old to be sent to France, but now I am thinking he didn't sign the Imperial Obligation. He had  a young family and probably thought he had done his bit.

Thanks to everyone for helping me to piece this together.

Harlem's wife.

[km1971]

You were discharged after being in the Reserve not before. You either did 12 years in uniform or 7 years followed by 5 years in the Army Reserve. You were then discharged.

The Relief of Chitral was in 1895, so he would have served his 12 years when he was discharged. He would not have gone into the Reserve. He would have just gone back into civilian life as an Army Pensioner. Have you looked in Kew for his first set of papers?

If he re-enlisted into a TF battalion at the start of WW1 he would have signed the Imperial Obligation at the same time. Where are you getting the information from? If you have found his papers on Ancestry it will say which battalions he served in, and the dates.

He probably signed the Imperial Obligation and was kept back to train recruits, and in 1917 was transferred to the Labour Corps due to age or not being fully fit. At least half of the LC served in France so he may have been lucky and his company stayed in the UK. After conscription was introduced in 1916 they would have sent him abroad if they needed him.

Ken

[Harlem]

Hello Ken

Thank you for your reply.

I have George Henry Walker's records from Kew. I think I just misused the word 'discharged.'

Thanks for your help.

Harlem's wife