Details of service - not understood.

[GordonFindlay]

I found Thomas Connell, who was enrolled in 3/Gordon Highlanders as a militiaman on 8 Jul 1897, and "discharged by Purchase" on 11 April 1898. He originally attested for up to six years, and had previous militia service.

The attached screen capture show his "Details of Service"; I can't make it out.

Any suggestions?

Slainte
Gordon

[BumbleB]

Removed

[mckha489]

Had not joined? 

Which doesn’t make sense,but that’s what it looks like to me.

Or the last word could be formed or forced. But I think there is an i in it, due to “dot”

[MaxD]

The context (always best to see that) shows that it comes in the column where annual training is recorded.  Had not joined is almost certainly recording that in 1897, the militia had not come together for annual training in the time after he attested in July.  Their training that year had been in April and May

MaxD

[GordonFindlay]

Thanks all. It makes sense if the militia had not "joined" or "formed" while he was signed up.

Slainte
Gordon

[MaxD]

It is not the militia which had not joined/formed, it is the other way round!  It was he who had not joined when the militia carried out their annual training that year.  Had he joined before April 3 1897 and attended the annual training that took place that year from then to May 8th then the column would have had "present" or something similar entered.

MaxD

[GordonFindlay]

Thanks for the clarification.