CEF Good Conduct Badge

[Broznitsky]

On another forum I posted the question: What is a Good Conduct Badge? I received an informative answer (pasted below), but I am wondering if any Pals could comment on if indeed men would get disqualified from wearing the chevron for "naughty" behaviour, even though they had served the time.

"""""(Bill Alexander) Good conduct "badges", in the army, were inverted chevrons worn on the lower left sleeve. Only soldiers with the rank of corporal or below were entitled to wear the good conduct chevrons. One chevron represented 2 years "good" service, two stripes 5 years, three for 12, four for 16, and five stripes for 21 years. Obviously, many soldiers would qualify for the 2 years, but few in the CEF would qualify for more than that. Soldiers with militia or permanent force service would qualify, and may have had several years good service. Good conduct chevrons are not frequently seen in WWI photos.

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(Me) Thanks, Bill. Do you think that good conduct chevrons were "automatically" awarded for the length of service to all who had done the time, or that if a man had some disciplinary action noted on his file such notation would negate the award?

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(Bill Alexander) Good conduct awards were not just "time in". You had to be "good". However, what "good" means is open to some interpretation. If you had been brought up on charge and convicted of the offence, it would show on Casualty Form A 103 or the R 122 form. (postings promotions reductions etc). A record here of some disciplinary action would likely preclude the award for that period of time. However, if two years had passed since the infraction the soldier would likely qualify. As well lots of fellows were not "good" but did not have records. They would likely be elegible for the chevron. As the saying goes, good conduct awards are often given for X number of years of undetected crime."""""

[Guest Hussar]

In the Modern Navy, Good Conduct Badges (G.C.B's) are jokingly referred to as "Get Out of Jail Cards" as they are usually the first things to go and can ( depending on the severity of the crime) save the wearers Rate or prevent a spell in D.Q's (Detention Quarters)

[Guest stevebec]

The Australian Army before the war didn't have these GCB.

But after there arrival in France decided they should have them also.

The AIF instruction was that they were awarded the same as English ones but that they were to be given for each full year without any disipline entries in their books.

Its a rare photo that shows any soldier with them.

The practice of awarding them finished with the war and the pratice never followed into our Army post war.

[Joe Sweeney]

Peter,

Yes the loss of a good conduct badge was fairly easy and common to accomplish, particularly in peace time.

One badge shall be forfeited for each occasion on which a soldiers name appears in the regimental conduct book (so a lot depended on the personalities of his commanders). No Courts Martial is necessary. With Courts Martial all badges can be taken away.

Restoration of a badge is as Bill states 2 years of clean record from date name appearing in regimental conduct book. No restoration if loss due to Courts Martial.

If more than one badge was lost a soldier would have to complete a "Half Term" for each badge.

The rules for forfeiture and restoration are laid down in the Royal Warrant for Pay articles 1094 thru 1100.

Joe Sweeney