Frank William Davis

[suey]

    
Could some kind person have a look at Franks Military Record for me please and explain.  I'm uncertain as to what this actually is - he answers 'yes' at question 10 Kent Artillery so appears to already be serving.  But this is a short service record for the Royal Artillery and he seems to only serve 5 years in total.  Also is he only in the Reserves and not a regular soldier ? 
I have managed to confuse myself  not difficult these days 

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01p6c/

[PaulineJ]

Goodness,  he's a tall lad isn't he?

He's aged 19, so maybe his period of service before this didn't count towards his pension?

Could this be where the discrepancy occurs?

[suey]

Thanks Pauline - could have been a boy soldier I guess, would make sense.  Yes he was tall at 5 9 and a half, quite unusual, a lot of mine hardly make 5, 5"

[MaxD]

The Kent Militia Artillery was a part time unit based in Dover at the time.  He is joining the regular army now on a 12 year engagement, 7 active service, 5 years reserve (could be 8 and 4 if abroad at the end of the 7).

He serves with what later (1899) was called the Royal Garrison Artillery, here simply Royal Artillery, in Dover until Mar 93, then with 20 Company to Bermuda to Jan 95, then Halifax Nova Scotia until April 97 amassing nearly 5 years service.  He then buys himself out of the army for £18.

He doesn't get a pension because he hasn't served his full term.

MaxD

[suey]

MaxD. Thank you so much for reply.  That’s made things much clearer