CHARLES TUCKEY Cheshire Regiment 16th reg number 21590 & Labour Coy (189) 113171

[TonyR]

Could Charles have been home (in Birmingham) between 10/1/16 & 30/1/16?

If I'm reading his papers correctly; Charles was found 'drunk & incapable' on 30/12/15 in Pewsey, sentenced to 10 days C.B. (confined to barracks?) on 1/1/16 through till 10/1/16, before he EMBD (embarked?) on 30/1/16 from Southampton.

As you can probably guess, I'm a novice in relation to soldier's army papers so be gentle.  Would welcome thoughts on whether Charles definitely remained in barracks between 10/1/16 & 30/1/16 or could he have had any home leave during this time?

Private CHARLES TUCKEY Service Number: 21590
Regiment & Unit/Ship Cheshire Regiment 16th (Service Bn)
280 Bloomsbury Street Birmingham NOK mother Eliza
Attested Suffolk Street Birmingham 14 December 1914 Age 25 years 11 months
Posted 16 Dec 1914
Conduct Sheet (image 0838)
Masham - 3/8/15 - overstaying pass - 7 days C.C. - 11/8/15
Chisledon - 15/11/15 - overstaying pass - 10 days C.B. - 18/11/15
Pewsey - 30/12/15 - drunk & incapable - 10 days C.B. - 1/1/16
Conduct Sheet (image 0836)
Chisledon - 15/11/15 - overstaying pass - 10 days C.B. - 18/11/15 - expired 27/11/15
Pewsey - 30/12/15 - drunk & incapable - 10 days C.B. - 1/1/16 - expired 10/1/16
Casualty Form Active Service (image 0830)
EMBD 30/1/16 Southampton ss Mona Queen
Molingham 16/2/16 - drunk - 4 days -
Posted 30/1/16 France
Transferred Labour Coy (189) 14/5/17
Posted 24/1/19
Demob?? 12/3/19 Belgium
from 193 Labour Coy 113171 103 Wyrley Road Witton Birmingham

I have images, but not sure whether to post them.  Thanks, TonyR.

[CaroleW]

Without any direct info from his record it would be impossible to guess his whereabouts in those 20 days.  Personal opinion only - given his record, I very much doubt he would have been given 20 days leave

[Andy J2022]

As far as I am aware soldiers who joined up during the First World War were not routinely given embarkation leave prior to proceeding overseas (as happened in peacetime and during WW2). Since this man had been on a charge for overstaying a pass in November 1915 plus his later charge for drunkenness, I very much doubt if he would have been given leave except in extraordinary circumstances, such as compassionate leave if a near relative was seriously ill and likely to die.
If you asking because you are trying to see if he might have fathered a baby around this time, it is possible that his wife/girlfriend could have travelled down to near where he was stationed in Pewsey and he was able to 'meet' her locally on a normal 24 hour pass after his CB punishment had ended. Such things were not unheard of!

[TonyR]

Hi CaroleW, thanks for your opinion. I would have thought that Charles & his regiment would have been too busy for any of them to have had any leave so close to leaving for France. In fact with Charles' recent conduct, it would have been risky to grant him any leave, in case he did not return in time, if at all.
Thanks Andy J2022, either you're a mind-reader or very perceptive! I'm trying to eliminate some of the Tuckey chaps that DNA is pointing towards & thought Charles might be an easy one to remove e.g if all men were confined to camp in preparation of going to France. Even if that was accurate, I suppose he could have always sneaked out for a rendezvous, or she in, shall keep that in mind.
Regards, TonyR.