Joseph Edward Flatt - how long was discharge leave?

[PRC]

The names remembered on the war memorial in the village of Methwold in Norfolk includes a Joseph Flatt. There is no obvious match on the Commonwealt War Graves Commission website for him.

 

There are dribs and drabs of service records for a Joseph Flatt who came from Methwold, served in the Great War and who died in 1919. He was discharged on grounds of sickness and a more in depth search may prove that the sickness he was discharged with was a significant factor in the cause of his death. But before starting down that path I am wondering if he more fundamentally comes within the scope of the CWGC legal obligation - that he was still serving at the time of his death.

 

You can read a brief summary of his service in the Militia, (service number 4071), his full 12 years in the colours, (service number 5201), Army Reserve D, (service number 52022), mobilisation, Great War service with the Norfolk Regiment, (5201) and the 8th Londons (376977) here.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/43688219@N00/49691834941/in/dateposted-public/

He was born Edward Joseph but was known as Joseph Edward.

 

The Great War documentation is a bit of a mess. On the 7th March 1919 he was referred to a Medical Tribunal at Sobraon Military Hospital, Colchester, with a view to invaliding him out.

He was discharged at London on the 18th March 1919 under Kings Regulations 392 XVI, no longer physically fit to serve. I cannot see any reference in the papers as to what his ill-health was.

 

His first entry in the Register of Soldiers Effects, 919587 shows hims as Rifleman 376977 8th London Regiment and that he Died after Discharge. The later record 922246 shows that he died while on Discharge Furlough on the 30th April 1919. His death was registered in the Norwich District which suggest he died in hospital.The balance of his pay was sent to his sister Kate while his War Gratuity of £27.10 was deposited in a Post Office Savings Bank account – presumably to wait a claim on his estate.

 

I naively had assumed in the past that a discharge date included any pre-discharge furlough, but given the short period between referral and "discharge" in this case, that doesn't seem likely.

 

So could he still have been in the Army on the 30th April 1919, some 43 days after he was "discharged" - how long was furlough leave?

 

Thanks,

Peter

 

Attachments - Statement of Services page from last Army record courtesy FindMyPast, Silver War Badge Roll and 2 x Army Register of Soldiers Effects, courtesy Ancestry.

 

 

[ss002d6252]

There was usually around 28 days from the release to the point where the discharge was fully dealt with.

 

Quote

The balance of his pay was sent to his sister Kate while his War Gratuity of £27.10 was deposited in a Post Office Savings Bank account – presumably to wait a claim on his estate.

It would usually just have been paid out to the next of kin on death (or whoever was dealing with his estate). In this case I suspect it was already set up for payment to the POSB (which is what was meant to happen to a discharged soldier) and the payment was still made that way. The POSB book was set for payment on the last day of his furlough.

Craig

[PRC]

11 minutes ago, ss002d6252 said:

There was usually around 28 days from the release to the point where the discharge was fully dealt with.

 

Thanks Craig - I'm certainly used to seeing 28 days in connection with a normal discharge but was wondering if there was anything different for those leaving on medical grounds - particularly if the man concerned was still either an inpatient or receiving medical attention at the Army's expense

 

The alternative explanation would be that it was an administrative fudge to get the payment made and didn't actually reflect his legal status at the time of his death.

 

Cheers,

Peter