Official Reason for Discharge?

[glennaa]

I was able to find my grandfather's discharge papers, and became curious as to the actual regulation that is noted on his discharge certificate:

"being no longer physically fit for War Service K's R Para 392(XXI) + A C P 550 + 1038/17"

here's an image of that:

Is there any deeper meaning in the official regulation, or is that the standard reason given to all wounded solders?

My grandfather was gassed and received a "slight flesh wound" on the first day of the Somme offensive of 1916, was evacuated back to England, where he spent the next year in and out of Hospital until he was finally discharged from the Army in Oct. 1917. He received a disability pension until 1955.

The other thing: He mentions that he was transferred to Army reserve (Class W). What does the "Class W" mean?

Thanks,

Glenn

[Patrick ODwyer]

KR 392. XXi refers to those 'discharged on termination of his period of engagement' rather than as a result of wounds. That said I suppose the two could coincide if he wasn't allowed to re-enlist or extend his service in war time due to wounds.

I think, but someone can probably put me right on this, 'W' Reserve was for those who would have had longer service but were prevented from doing so in the normal reserves (perhaps due to being unfit as aresult of wounds) so they they may be considered to have done the full time for which they enlisted. As I say I may be wrong on this and would be interested in other views.

[Muerrisch]

What we need, of course, is sight of the ACIs quoted in the discharge. What follows is speculation, to be held up to the content of the ACIs early in October when I visit Kew.

Soldier reaches end of engagement [this includes reserve time, and extra year in war or overseas .... this typically a total of 13 years ...... so grandpa would, until mid 1916 have walked free of obligation and with a nice disability pension, BUT, after the Military service acts one had to be over 41 years of age [or thereabouts] to avoid being retained, as indeed Frank Richards was. Grandpa was possibly not 41, he was not fit however, and the ACIs might have prescribed which clause he was to be discharged under. As for W reserve, I await advice!

[Terry_Reeves]

Class W of the Army Reserve was announced in AO 203, 1916 and was created for "all soldiers whose service is deemed more valuable to the country in civil, rather than military employment". Included in this were skilled men who were combed out of the army and conscientious objectors who had agreed to work on various government schemes.

In the former case, transfer to the W Reserve meant that the army could recall them to active service if the manpower situation dictated it. In the latter case, this was an administrative "fix" which allowed men, whom the Central Tribunal and the War Office accepted were genuine, to be discharged from the army without appearing to overturn the decisions of the tribunals. It also meant that if they broke the conditions of the tribunals decision, the military could recall them and subject them to military disciplinary proceedings.

Terry Reeves

[glennaa]

Interesting about the KR 392(XXI) as he signed up Dec. 1914, and his discharge was Oct 1917 (he would have "officially" been 22, actually 19) so his service was less than 3 years. I am still confused about "class W", though, as his notes have items in 1916 and 1917 muddled up.

Discharged from hospital 10th of October then transferred to Army reserve (Class W) to my work at Topcliffe, after receiving letter from my mine manager and it being sent to the Minister of Munition(?) at London

I can't figure out if this occurred after a hospital discharge in October 1916, or after his service discharge in 11 October 1917. In other words, was he assigned class W, went to work, and then a year later discharged from military, or would he have been discharged from the Army, then assigned class W while working at the mine? And why would he receive a pension if he was still able to work?

Glenn

[Terry_Reeves]

Glenn

I think you will find he was discharged from the army to the Class W Reserve to go and work in the mine.

Terry Reeves