Army service record help please *COMPLETED*

[willow154]

This looks excellent - diary of a WW1 soldier:
http://www.telusplanet.net/public/hammy35/ww1/1916.htm

I don't know if you know how to do this - my seventeen son told me - but if you hold down the Control Key and press the F key at the same time a box comes up which allows you to search for the word you want - makes looking for Linesman much easier. Apologies if you know this already.
Paulene

[~Rachel~]

cheers for all that, had a quick scan through and they look brilliant! I'll have a proper read through this evening.

I have a couple of ancestors who had similar roles, so looks like they'll help me out understanding them a bit more too! 

[scrimnet]

Think the next bit says:
Base signal depot
Leave to ?  21.11.17


0019  1. Drunk
MAL    2.  Absent for Roll Call   6.5.18
sec     3.  9.30pm 10.15pm awol (absent without leave).
           10 days  ? ?

10 days Field Punishment Number 1.....Nasty

He would be shackled in irons and secured to a fixed object, often a gun wheel or similar. He could only be so fixed for up to 2 hours in 24, and not for more than 3 days in 4, or for more than 21 days in his sentence.

This punishment was often known as 'crucifixion' and due to its humiliating nature was viewed by the general soldiery as quite unfair.

Field Punishment Number 2 was similar except the man was shackled but not fixed to anything.

 Both forms of punishment were carried out by the office of the Provost-Marshal, unless his unit was officially on the move when it would be carried out by his own Regiment...

[willow154]

Goodness Wasn't expecting that!

[scrimnet]

Ooooh....

I like to surprise!!

 

[willow154]

Perhaps I shouldn't be the one to ask this - but what sort of thing would he have done, to warrant that sort of punishment, scrimnet?

[scrimnet]

Perhaps I shouldn't be the one to ask this - but what sort of thing would he have done, to warrant that sort of punishment, scrimnet?

It's there on the sheet...AWOL and drunk on 06.05.1918 and sentenced on 08.05.1918....

I expect it was on "active duty" so the punishment is more severe to deter others..

Shame we can't use it today...that would sort the wheat from the chaff....

A linesman would be laying telephone wires across where ever....Esp when they have been destroyed by shell fire...Can be quite a hairy occupation...

[willow154]

Thanks, scrimnet
Either disobedient, or maybe showing signs of not coping with all already - do you think the next bit refers to him being sent back to a General Hospital in the UK?
I can imagine that at certain times replacing the lines, which were vital to communication in the heat of the battle, would be quite hair-raising.

[scrimnet]

Thanks, scrimnet
Either disobedient, or maybe showing signs of not coping with all already - do you think the next bit refers to him being sent back to a General Hospital in the UK?
I can imagine that at certain times replacing the lines, which were vital to communication in the heat of the battle, would be quite hair-raising.

There is no sign....that I can see...of him reporting sick or being injured or anything else that point to him being sent home with a Blighty one...

I am not convinced that it is a casevac at all...In fact I'm not convinced he was injured. Hospitals need telephones/sigs/comms just as much as any other military unit. We do!

Is there a MIC for this chap? Has it a SWB on it?