Forfeit of service medals

[John_Hartley]

I've recently come across a man whose service file confirms that he forfeited his service medals. His crime was to tell from a comrade, for whoich he was sentenced to 12 months hard labour and dismissal from the army with ignominy. In the event, he was released from Leeds Prison after several months and remained in the UK with the Labour Corps.

Obviously stealing from a comrade is a breach of trust if not the more usual thought of military discipline but it made me wonder how serious (or trivial, if you like) the offence had to be for you to lose your entitlement.

TIA

John

[Terry_Reeves]

Section 556 of King's Regulations, 1912 has this to say:

"Theft from a comrade should, unless there are peculiarly complicated circumstances, be dealt with by court-martial in preference to trial by the civil power, and the charge is to be framed under Section 18 (4) (of the) Army Act."

Paragraph 1236 of the Pay Warrant , 1914 has this to say:

"Every soldier who....is found guilty by a Court Martial of desertion, fraudulent enlistment, or any offence under Section 17 or 18 of the Army Act.....shall forfeit all medals and decorations (other than the Victoria Cross which is dealt with under special regulations) of which he may be in possession, or to which he may be entitled, together with the annuity or gratuity, if any, thereto appertaining."

TR

[Muerrisch]

however, many forfeitures were rescinded after the war .... I know a well documented case of a RWF MM winner thus treated.

[John_Hartley]

Thank you, both.

From a quick Google, Sections 17 & 18 seem to refer to assorted financial "iffyness", so quite a wide spread of offences could lose you your medals.

[auchonvillerssomme]

The instruction for the forfiet of the MC is as followa.

11306 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 19 NOVEMBER, 1920....

Tenthly.—It is ordained: —

i(l) that a recipient of the Military Cross

who suffers death by sentence of Court Martial;

or if an Officer, is cashiered, dismissed

or removed from Our Naval, Military or Air

Forces for misconduct; or if a sailor, soldier,

or airman, is discharged from Our Naval,

Military or Air Forces with ignominy, or for

misconduct, or on account of a conviction by

the Oivil Power, or for having been sentenced

t® penal servitude; shall forfeit the

Military Cross (unless otherwise recommended

by the Army Council) ;

(2) that if a recipient of the Military Cross

is convicted by the Civil Power, or is dealt

with under the Probation of Offenders' Act,

1907, he shall be liable to a like forfeiture

on the recommendation of Our Army Council.

(3) that the forfeiture shall be carried out

under an authority bearing our Royal (Sign

Manual; and shall involve

(a)1 the erasure of the: recipient's name

from the Register of those persons upon

whom, the Mililary Cross has been conferred;

and

( the •cessation of any pension or gratuity

to which the possession of the decoration

might entitle the recipient, but no

such forfeiture shall extend to any sum

of money which has already been paid.

(4) that We, O'ur Heirs and Successors,

shall at all times have power to restore a

forfeited Military Cross and with, it such

pension or gratuity as may have been forfeited;

(5) that a notice of forfeiture or of restoration

shall in every case be published in the

London Gazette.

again i must apologise for the smiley face.