Military Regulations

[Guest briandownes]

Trying to find the territorial regs for 1912. I am interested in finding out what regs covered discharge from the territorial force in 1914 as the 1912 regs were in force until the war started. In particular Paragraph 156(3).

Have tried Imperial War Museum and the British Army Museum but no joy.

Hope someone out there can help. Brian

[Joe Sweeney]

Brian,

The TF regs of 1912 were the regs that covered TF discharges. My copy is current up through Army Orders printed to 1 Dec 1914.

Paragraph 156(3) states "At his own request", the OC was authorized to discharge and could carry it out. Subject to conditions of Section IX (3) of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act of 1907:

"(3) Any man of the Territorial Force shall, except when a proclamation ordering the Army Reserve to be called out on permanent service is in force, be entitled to be discharged before the end of his current term of service on complying with the following conditions:-

(i) Giving to his commanding officer three months' notice in writing, or such less notice as may be prescribed, of his desire to be discharged; and

(ii) Paying for the use of the association for the county for which he, was enlisted such sum as may be prescribed not exceeding five pounds; and

(iii) Delivering in good order, fair wear and tear only excepted, all arms, clothing, and appointments, being public property, issued to him, or, in cases where for any good and sufficient cause the delivery of the property aforesaid is impossible, on paying the value thereof :

Provided that it shall be lawful for the association for the county, or for any officer authorized by the association, in any case in which it appears that the reasons for which the discharge is claimed are of sufficient urgency or weight, to dispense either wholly or in part with all or any of the above conditions."

Joe Sweeney

[Guest briandownes]

Thanks Joe Sweeny. Have now found that the person was discharged April 1914 to go into the W Yorks Police Force. But he still served in the Gt War according to his police records in 1919. Whether he was called up or volunteered, dont know yet. Thanks again Brian Downes

[robwilliams]

Brian,

In the early part of the war TF members were still permitted to retire 'time expired'. When a TF man joined he did so for a period of 4 years. The original men joined in 1908 until 1912 and again until 1916 when many returned home. Obviously many stayed on and others re-enlisted for a further 4 years. I believe this ended with the bill on conscription.

Rob

[Terry_Reeves]

Rob

Interesting point. Arthur Hutt VC, 1/7th R Warwicks, appears to have joined the TF in 1908 (B "Courtaulds" Coy) and left time- expired in 1915. He re-joined the Bn in 1916 and won his VC the following year as you no doubt will be aware.

Terry Reeves

[Joe Sweeney]

This is a very good point. The advent of war did not eliminate the possibility of discharge, for reasons other than medical.

For the Territorial Force, time expired; men were still eligible for discharge. Although AO 329 (1914) slightly modified the Territorial discharges by suspending all termination of engagement discharges until demobilization or the expiration the extra 12 months required by Section 87 of the Army Act. So in effect it added 1 year to the time of both Regulars and Territorials. So a Terrier had 5 years instead of 4 to fullfill.

The Military Service Act of 1916 further tightened discharges. First of all it effectively eliminated most legal distinctions between Terrier and Regular. It also eliminated all completion of engagement discharges unless a soldier had completed a period of 12 years service, together with the extra year required under section 87 of the Army Act, and have attained 41 years of age. This was in effect until at least April 1918.

Joe Sweeney