RNVR Reason for Discharge - Resigned (Reconstruction)

[mickgall]

Hi all

I've downloaded a RNVR service card for one of my great uncles but I'm a bit confused as to some of the info on. it looks like he served from 16-10-1914 to 31-3-1915. In the reason for discharge it looks like it says Resigned (Reconstruction). In the remarks it looks like S,C to MAU 9A SC 4489Nov/1920. I was wondering how he would be allowed to resign during the war or did he join something else/ Any help greatly appreciated.

Mick

 

Charles walter Britton RNVR 1914.pdf

[rolt968]

Do you know what his occupation was? I can read Tech[nical] Ass[istant]. Is what follows "H M O W"? I notice that it was the reason for the discharge of Frederick Ernest Ball.

I think that it was felt that he could be better employed doing something else probably related to his civilian occupation.

 

RM

[Ron Clifton]

H M O W = His Majesty's Office of Works, probably.

 

The resignation occurred prior to the passing of the Military Service Acts in 1916, so a member of the RNVR could presumably resign on completion of the period for which he had agreed to serve, just as a Territorial Force soldier could.

 

Ron

[rolt968]

7 minutes ago, Ron Clifton said:

H M O W = His Majesty's Office of Works, probably.

 

 

I had wondered about that as a possibility but was not sure if that was what it was called at the time.

 

I wonder if "reconstruction" refers to the record - someone realised (in 1920?) that there was nothing in that part of the record and put something in; or does it refer to what he went away to do.

 

In the 1939 Register he is a Civil Service ???? Officer, which tends to confirm the Office of Works.

 

RM

[horatio2]

12 hours ago, mickgall said:

In the remarks it looks like S,C to MAU 9A SC 4489Nov/1920.

"Service Certificate [S.C.] to Man [under 1920 reference]." i.e. his Service Cerificate was sent to him.

I agree the Ministry of Works/Office of Works is most likely occupation.

[mickgall]

Hi all thanks for the quick replies. Ministry of Works would seem the most likely as you say. In the 1901/1911 census’s he is shown as a furniture designer/draughtsman. When he died in 1944 one of the beneficiaries to his will was his son Edwin Charles Briton who is shown as a Technical Clerk , Ministry of Works. So it seems like he might have spent the war working in munitions factories or working on designs for new equipment/kit.

Also his older brother Edwin John James Britton had a technical army career. He was an apprentice for 4 years at HM Dockyard Portsmouth  1895-1899, Royal College of Science 1899-1900, Ordnance College Woolwich student then joined the Army ordnance dept in 1903 and became an Inspector of ordnance Machinery 3^rd Class. Was in sole charge of the Central  Ordnance Workshops Gibraltar 1903-05, which included Steamboats and Gun mountings. By the time of his wedding his was an Inspector of ordnance Machinery 2^nd Class. In the 1922 army list he’s shown as a Lt.Col and is an  Inspector of ordnance Machinery 1^st class. In the 1939 census he’s shown as a Brigadier. He was with the BEF in France and was awarded the 1915 star and  the DSO at some point. I’ve had a quick look on line at the NA site to try and find his service record but its not on line and how would he have been awarded a DSO although I have read somewhere that non-combatant officers were sometimes gallantry awards. Anybody any ideas?