tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20502397124312041342024-03-13T02:49:20.538+00:00Army Forms & AttestationsA look at army forms and attestation papers issued by the British Army since the 1700s. There is no particular order to the posts so use the ATTESTATION FORM INDEX in the right hand margin to find your way around.Paul Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050239712431204134.post-50210476049987361682018-10-28T06:01:00.000+00:002018-10-28T06:01:15.125+00:00War Office Form WO.1143<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uMJLrk-VR2s/W9VOCmqLgHI/AAAAAAAAMTE/-jxr1_wARrIMzaDNpPraOYGyOFIpWNoBwCLcBGAs/s1600/GBM_WO97_1740_170_003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1075" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uMJLrk-VR2s/W9VOCmqLgHI/AAAAAAAAMTE/-jxr1_wARrIMzaDNpPraOYGyOFIpWNoBwCLcBGAs/s400/GBM_WO97_1740_170_003.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
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This form would later become the ubiquitous <a href="http://armyformsandattestations.blogspot.com/2014/12/army-form-b178-medical-history.html" target="_blank">Army Form B.178</a> and would go through many design iterations. A prime example of its usefulness to the military historian can be seen in the image below which lists all the stations where this particular soldier was examined or received treatment.</div>
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The front of this form also gives a lot of useful and interesting personal detail about the man, detail that would not make its way onto Army Form B.178. This particular form was begun in 1866 and as can be seen from the reverse, the man re-engaged in 1878.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-teZWS6VK8gY/W9VO3f-ewLI/AAAAAAAAMTM/gkup9dhxBE4Ms-vd65prjJ22nCghwTGOQCLcBGAs/s1600/GBM_WO97_1740_170_004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1600" height="272" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-teZWS6VK8gY/W9VO3f-ewLI/AAAAAAAAMTM/gkup9dhxBE4Ms-vd65prjJ22nCghwTGOQCLcBGAs/s400/GBM_WO97_1740_170_004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Images are Crown Copyright, The National Archives.</div>
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<br />Paul Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050239712431204134.post-31545863677178729312018-10-28T05:45:00.000+00:002018-10-28T05:45:07.465+00:00War Office Form WO.83 - Discharge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R9tM5dEvZuI/W9VKz0J05zI/AAAAAAAAMSw/NsJ26v_xqy4VqnXccVKPqtSrCNCpdKhAACLcBGAs/s1600/GBM_WO97_1740_170_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1025" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R9tM5dEvZuI/W9VKz0J05zI/AAAAAAAAMSw/NsJ26v_xqy4VqnXccVKPqtSrCNCpdKhAACLcBGAs/s400/GBM_WO97_1740_170_001.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
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This, somewhat tatty example of WO.83 is commonly seen in soldiers' files in WO 97 at The National Archives. The information at the top of this form shows that this particular version was part of a print-run of 25,000 forms generated in July 1878, and the man in question was being discharged on the 11th August 1880.</div>
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These documents are very useful as they give a summary of the man's service; presumably the only reason why generations of Whitehall clerks charged with 'weeding' ('destroying' would be a more apt term) soldiers' papers decided to spare this particular form.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9xbIW7kMAhY/W9VK7OHXYeI/AAAAAAAAMS0/1paJUC2OzIwEeSTCN3XUJne9vaptjeOlgCLcBGAs/s1600/GBM_WO97_1740_170_002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1040" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9xbIW7kMAhY/W9VK7OHXYeI/AAAAAAAAMS0/1paJUC2OzIwEeSTCN3XUJne9vaptjeOlgCLcBGAs/s400/GBM_WO97_1740_170_002.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
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<br />Paul Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050239712431204134.post-29473030257626676032018-10-28T05:04:00.001+00:002018-10-28T05:04:29.754+00:00Army Form B.5112 - Medal receipt card<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BbyRaAXJ2cs/W9VBpr2KhfI/AAAAAAAAMR8/_Ee5MaxVYP4mV8ID-QqUfQMHv14WJJ2gQCLcBGAs/s1600/GBM_WO363-4_007398056_00687-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="1198" height="250" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BbyRaAXJ2cs/W9VBpr2KhfI/AAAAAAAAMR8/_Ee5MaxVYP4mV8ID-QqUfQMHv14WJJ2gQCLcBGAs/s400/GBM_WO363-4_007398056_00687-1.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There must have been millions of these cards in circulation in the early 1920s. This particular run was printed in September 1921 and the document is commonly seen in soldiers' service records of the First World War. It accompanied the campaign medals sent to soldiers and was supposed to be completed, signed and returned by the recipient. This card was, which is how it surives in this soldier's file, but many of these examples, along with the medal boxes, are also commonly seen with medal groups and a nice addition when they do survive.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SBNMt2gqCDY/W9VBrV4yoZI/AAAAAAAAMSA/1IAm5q2kL3onv7I1wbikz3ixXszk2fN4QCLcBGAs/s1600/GBM_WO363-4_007398056_00688-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="1226" height="243" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SBNMt2gqCDY/W9VBrV4yoZI/AAAAAAAAMSA/1IAm5q2kL3onv7I1wbikz3ixXszk2fN4QCLcBGAs/s400/GBM_WO363-4_007398056_00688-1.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These images are Crown Copyright, The National Archives.</span>Paul Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050239712431204134.post-3058715409222896922018-10-27T09:01:00.000+01:002018-10-27T09:01:13.414+01:00Army Form W.3291 - Classification Certificate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mShQRWM7jVk/W9QWg9vDccI/AAAAAAAAMRY/H1EWRfuD-qUS7dLl0ETK06XWLXZoZIaSACEwYBhgL/s1600/GBM_WO363-4_007398056_00701-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1031" data-original-width="1367" height="301" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mShQRWM7jVk/W9QWg9vDccI/AAAAAAAAMRY/H1EWRfuD-qUS7dLl0ETK06XWLXZoZIaSACEwYBhgL/s400/GBM_WO363-4_007398056_00701-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Army Form W.3291 first saw the light of day in August 1916 and this version dates from October 1916. It was certainly used for men who had attested under the Derby Scheme and may also have been used for men who were conscripted. </div>
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In this particular case this Derby Scheme recruited has been classified as A. Fit for general service, having attested over a year earlier on the 9th December 1915. This man was examined and classified on the 22nd January 1917 and he was mobilised on the 23rd February 1917, ultimately serving overseas with the Cheshire Regiment until demobilised in October 1919.</div>
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The reverse of this document refers to <a href="http://armyformsandattestations.blogspot.com/2014/08/army-form-w3195-mobilisation-of-derby.html" target="_blank">Army Form W.3195</a> which I have covered on a previous post and which refers specifically to Derby Scheme attestations. It is interesting that this Army Form addresses the candidate as "Mr", a title rarely seen pre-printed on army forms and probably one of the last times, until late 1919, that this particular man would have been addressed as such.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PtU1P0ZfotU/W9QY26q2G4I/AAAAAAAAMRo/F2pB_oOeu8MUmgSbPPuuZNsTosoP-UeEACEwYBhgL/s1600/GBM_WO363-4_007398056_00702-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1035" data-original-width="1376" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PtU1P0ZfotU/W9QY26q2G4I/AAAAAAAAMRo/F2pB_oOeu8MUmgSbPPuuZNsTosoP-UeEACEwYBhgL/s400/GBM_WO363-4_007398056_00702-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Paul Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050239712431204134.post-56522506657608701492018-10-27T08:47:00.000+01:002018-10-27T08:47:53.597+01:00Army Form W.3491 - Medical Board examination<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0gx8ggm2Zpk/W9QW7ZWkboI/AAAAAAAAMRc/MlNgomPv7wMS7op6PLyQ8reucoI3y4mvQCLcBGAs/s1600/GBM_WO363-4_007398056_00703-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="1600" height="263" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0gx8ggm2Zpk/W9QW7ZWkboI/AAAAAAAAMRc/MlNgomPv7wMS7op6PLyQ8reucoI3y4mvQCLcBGAs/s400/GBM_WO363-4_007398056_00703-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This particular version of Army From W.3491 was printed in November 1916. The man in question here was a Derby Scheme recruit who had originally attested in December 1915 but it would appear that this was used for conscripts as well. </div>
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The reference to Group and Class No refers to Derby Scheme (Group) and conscripted men (Class) and, as I mentioned, this man was a Derby Scheme recruit, a single man born in 1896 and hence in Group 2.</div>
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<br />Paul Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050239712431204134.post-12410598267745360562018-10-09T05:06:00.000+01:002018-10-09T05:06:26.245+01:00Army Form B.50 - Soldiers' Small Book<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kqG_-9vkads/W7wnqQhXGqI/AAAAAAAAMLE/EY6x_6WkE50XGjTZCMYZ8eD6aHbe6tgsACLcBGAs/s1600/Book2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="841" data-original-width="570" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kqG_-9vkads/W7wnqQhXGqI/AAAAAAAAMLE/EY6x_6WkE50XGjTZCMYZ8eD6aHbe6tgsACLcBGAs/s320/Book2.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Army Form B.50 was the Soldiers' Small Book which contained his personal
details as well as notes and observations designed to be helpful to the soldier
such as points to be observed on outposts, how to prevent sore feet, and
instructions for cleaning the rifle and carbine. Every soldier was issued with one - and so too were airmen, as in the image above,at that point in its evolution when the Royal Flying Corps was just another army corps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I have a couple of these in my collection, including the one my great grandfather kept when he joined the Army Service Corps in November 1915. In my experience it is rare to find these books completely filled in; often as not they appear to be largely blank, but they are nice objects to own and can be useful as there is a section which deals with the soldier's description on attestation as well as details of his next of kin.</span></div>
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As these books were issued to the soldier it it is rare to find them in service records - indeed, I have never seen one - but they do turn up at trade fairs and on well-known internet auction houses and they can be useful starting points for research projects.Paul Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050239712431204134.post-91391896999303768842017-10-07T11:19:00.001+01:002017-10-07T11:32:15.597+01:00Army Form 11238 - Syphilis case sheet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1jAt1gRAGss/Wdimq-JV09I/AAAAAAAALWw/cJNKlwl-fWwNSd4CxEtmjKzpxeTzdl6RACLcBGAs/s1600/GBM-WO363-4-007282801-00805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1jAt1gRAGss/Wdimq-JV09I/AAAAAAAALWw/cJNKlwl-fWwNSd4CxEtmjKzpxeTzdl6RACLcBGAs/s400/GBM-WO363-4-007282801-00805.jpg" width="266" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Venereal disease was a huge problem in the British Army. As Alan Ramsay Skelley writes in <i>The Victorian Army at Home</i>, "The incidence of the disease in 1860 was 369 cases per 1000 men. The loss of service was equivalent to the withdrawal of every soldier from the army for eight days or of two full battalions every year in Britain." He continues, "... although the threat it posed in 1899 was considerably less than in 1860, never less than one man in ten, and for most of the period one in five or an even higher proportion, underwent treatment each year."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hardly any wonder then that a special Army Form dealing with the treatment of syphilis cases was felt necessary to print. I've removed the man's details from the form on this post, but it states that he probably picked up the disease -and almost certainly from a brothel - at the Suddher Bazaar in Bareilly, India on the 3rd March 1912. He would undergo treatment for the next six months.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Also in this man's papers is Army Form 11237, a Medical Case Sheet which in this particular case shows that the man concerned was having his pulse, breathing and temperature checked every half an hour. The results appear to be normal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The images on this post are Crown Copyright, The National Archives.</span></div>
<br />Paul Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050239712431204134.post-15027820873230209352017-10-07T10:53:00.000+01:002017-10-07T10:54:54.982+01:00Army Form W.3484B - Approval of Discharge under King's Regs, Para 392 (xvi)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UGGGqI0I4pI/Wdihcj-LeuI/AAAAAAAALWg/Q9oivUttufkC2LZr0TfSa2A-SYzUHn_LQCLcBGAs/s1600/GBM-WO363-4-007364581-00968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1108" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UGGGqI0I4pI/Wdihcj-LeuI/AAAAAAAALWg/Q9oivUttufkC2LZr0TfSa2A-SYzUHn_LQCLcBGAs/s400/GBM-WO363-4-007364581-00968.jpg" width="276" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those of us who have studied First World War service will be very familiar with men being discharged under paragraph 392 (xvi) of King's Regulations for 1912 (re-printed with amendments to 1st August 1914). Men who were no longer physically fit for war service were discharged under this regulation and this particular form is essentially confirmation of this by the Medical Board.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These forms were printed in booklets and then detached. A note at the bottom of this particular form shows that it was part of a run of 8000 booklets which were printed in August 1916 (a month or more after the opening of the Somme offensive), clinical pessimism about the number of men who would soon be passing through this particular process.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This particular form was issued for 33179 Pte Ernest Riches of the 10th Yorkshire Regiment who was discharged from Norfolk War Hospital, Thorpe on the 30th August 1917.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The image on this page is Crown Copyright, The National Archives.</span>Paul Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050239712431204134.post-22294456225802034462017-08-18T05:39:00.000+01:002017-08-18T05:39:29.875+01:00WO Form 498 - Attestation 1878<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j3n2_dAjc0I/WZZtLUqQocI/AAAAAAAALOo/DLstj_qKA9Q-XWe_7JR6STB_xC4q9mMiQCLcBGAs/s1600/GBM-WO97-2721-081-007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1025" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j3n2_dAjc0I/WZZtLUqQocI/AAAAAAAALOo/DLstj_qKA9Q-XWe_7JR6STB_xC4q9mMiQCLcBGAs/s400/GBM-WO97-2721-081-007.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
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This form is an updated version of <a href="http://armyformsandattestations.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/wo-form-497-rorkes-drift-survivor.html" target="_blank">WO 497</a> and, in this case at least, dates to 1878. I suspect that it was introduced in this year as the code at the top left hand corner has a jumbled "1878" as the last four digits. </div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Dt7mhUrqYc/WZZuX2RwjwI/AAAAAAAALO0/dOBCiQiPVGUwxB54O74K_j26TkF1XJXfgCLcBGAs/s1600/Date.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="74" data-original-width="432" height="67" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Dt7mhUrqYc/WZZuX2RwjwI/AAAAAAAALO0/dOBCiQiPVGUwxB54O74K_j26TkF1XJXfgCLcBGAs/s400/Date.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This particular form was printed in a run of 12,000 by Ford and Tilt Ltd and appears to have been used principally for cavalry enlistments. The term of enlistment is stated as eight years with the colours and four years on the reserve.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j6RsWo7qbFg/WZZtOa0rG9I/AAAAAAAALOs/HP6udiUbmeMeKMSNmeP1BHay1_SaEeXGwCLcBGAs/s1600/GBM-WO97-2721-081-008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1023" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j6RsWo7qbFg/WZZtOa0rG9I/AAAAAAAALOs/HP6udiUbmeMeKMSNmeP1BHay1_SaEeXGwCLcBGAs/s400/GBM-WO97-2721-081-008.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
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<br />Paul Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050239712431204134.post-86547759455248036992017-07-10T14:05:00.000+01:002017-07-10T14:05:06.754+01:00Army Form WO.39 - Attestation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MXO4ygZs7Wc/WWN6QTg6nyI/AAAAAAAALI0/rYbcffib89YLN0OCwsfNKEprBvUbCn_JQCLcBGAs/s1600/GBM-WO97-3560-035-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1003" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MXO4ygZs7Wc/WWN6QTg6nyI/AAAAAAAALI0/rYbcffib89YLN0OCwsfNKEprBvUbCn_JQCLcBGAs/s320/GBM-WO97-3560-035-001.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This particular example attestation paper dates to July 1874 and, in this case, was used for an attestation on the 12th June. This is a two-page document, the second page showing that this man served nearly seevn years in India. There are separate papers in this man's file which detail his militray history and statement of services.</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kDUIQkgWORM/WWN6SqNbqAI/AAAAAAAALI4/mpX1SsP7MR03cFe617WFZp_ouJ2lA29zACLcBGAs/s1600/GBM-WO97-3560-035-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1003" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kDUIQkgWORM/WWN6SqNbqAI/AAAAAAAALI4/mpX1SsP7MR03cFe617WFZp_ouJ2lA29zACLcBGAs/s320/GBM-WO97-3560-035-002.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Images are Crown Copyright, The National Archives.</span>Paul Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050239712431204134.post-58607835288838698132017-05-27T10:55:00.002+01:002017-05-27T10:55:37.587+01:00Army Form W.3194 - Group Scheme, proof of attestation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Ry_AlID6e4/WSlLFvMM6QI/AAAAAAAAK-k/WyiRSB8zJTUdIz07qsQj7dfo33gXwYYOQCLcB/s1600/AE%2BW.3194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="797" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Ry_AlID6e4/WSlLFvMM6QI/AAAAAAAAK-k/WyiRSB8zJTUdIz07qsQj7dfo33gXwYYOQCLcB/s400/AE%2BW.3194.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I suspect that this document is uncommon. Army Form W.3194 appears to be proof of attestation under the Group Scheme or Derby Scheme. This man fell into Group 37 which indciates that he was a married man, born in 1884, when he attested on the 15th December 1915. Apart from this useful information, we also see the man's home address and that he attested at Melton Mowbray. Apart from a postage stamp, the reverse of this form is blank.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7gIIrNFNXEY/WSlM92CxoiI/AAAAAAAAK-w/xmBawsd-UlQvsD2Z0uz9GgjMHCYpWFyZACLcB/s1600/s-l1600%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="407" data-original-width="618" height="262" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7gIIrNFNXEY/WSlM92CxoiI/AAAAAAAAK-w/xmBawsd-UlQvsD2Z0uz9GgjMHCYpWFyZACLcB/s400/s-l1600%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Paul Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050239712431204134.post-12500116840947288832017-05-27T10:46:00.002+01:002017-05-27T10:46:39.044+01:00Army Form Z.53 - Cover<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l5PRydzMZYw/WSlKXdv5JRI/AAAAAAAAK-c/DaBlzdlR42MX4I1P-Tuuivxgl4JcqDAQwCLcB/s1600/AF%2BZ.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="745" height="224" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l5PRydzMZYw/WSlKXdv5JRI/AAAAAAAAK-c/DaBlzdlR42MX4I1P-Tuuivxgl4JcqDAQwCLcB/s320/AF%2BZ.53.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An envelope by any other name, Army Form Z.53 was a "cover for certificates and other documents of a soldier on demobization, transfer to the Reserve, or Discharge". This particualr form dates to 1919.</span>Paul Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050239712431204134.post-69711983008574672502017-05-01T09:10:00.002+01:002017-05-01T09:10:17.972+01:00Army Form B.267 - long service attestation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kgy2yPYueb4/WQbogxJn0PI/AAAAAAAAK6g/-ybL30cslbMc1M15tkGbB2an9SLP42GwgCEw/s1600/GBM-WO97-2531-147-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kgy2yPYueb4/WQbogxJn0PI/AAAAAAAAK6g/-ybL30cslbMc1M15tkGbB2an9SLP42GwgCEw/s400/GBM-WO97-2531-147-001.jpg" width="258" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f6f7; color: #232327; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My spreadsheet of attestation forms indicates that Army Form B.267 was first introduced in 1880. Men signing up for long service - 12 years' service - attested using this particular form, and it was certainly still being used in the early twentieth century when a run of 30,000 was printed for what was then the 32nd iteration of this particular form.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f6f7; color: #232327; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The image above shows long service attestation, version 2, issued March 1881 in a print-run of 10,000. This particular version was completed for 4466 Frank Collins when he joined the Rifle Brigade on the 9th June 1881. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yj67sUIWNkw/WQbjzWlDGPI/AAAAAAAAK6M/LOSIShU7SJAX6ObDwJofg5obM2YKpxFcwCEw/s1600/GBM-WO97-4332-114-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yj67sUIWNkw/WQbjzWlDGPI/AAAAAAAAK6M/LOSIShU7SJAX6ObDwJofg5obM2YKpxFcwCEw/s400/GBM-WO97-4332-114-001.jpg" width="256" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f6f7; color: #232327; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Long service attestation, version 12, July 1885; a print-run of 10,000. This particular version was still in use fifteen years later when James Robert Beatrup joined the Life Guards on the 15th June 1900.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2kiscIq2lIQ/WQbjzY0ysYI/AAAAAAAAK6Y/BCF1KrIvaXESDnHEtewOK29l2KCa7rCTQCEw/s1600/GBM-WO97-4284-046-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2kiscIq2lIQ/WQbjzY0ysYI/AAAAAAAAK6Y/BCF1KrIvaXESDnHEtewOK29l2KCa7rCTQCEw/s400/GBM-WO97-4284-046-001.jpg" width="246" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f6f7; color: #232327; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Long service attestation, version 21, September 1894; a print-run of 20,000. This particular version was completed on the 15th April 1889 when James Ayres joined the 2nd Life Guards.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-NGMuJz9LM/WQbjzbVra4I/AAAAAAAAK6Y/eVSyEZW7EecJAbSOxnDs1MYxxaKDMmEzQCEw/s1600/GBM-WO97-4346-014-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-NGMuJz9LM/WQbjzbVra4I/AAAAAAAAK6Y/eVSyEZW7EecJAbSOxnDs1MYxxaKDMmEzQCEw/s400/GBM-WO97-4346-014-001.jpg" width="251" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f6f7; color: #232327; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Long service attestation, version 24, September 1898; a print-run of 8,000. This particular version was completed on the 27th June 1899 when James Bennett joined the 2nd Life Guards.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AebpMv1o8RA/WQbjzzoUWOI/AAAAAAAAK6Y/lMsA5wHvJLoWPeSE-kjNLI6S3GzZWl1WgCEw/s1600/GBM-WO97-4888-077-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AebpMv1o8RA/WQbjzzoUWOI/AAAAAAAAK6Y/lMsA5wHvJLoWPeSE-kjNLI6S3GzZWl1WgCEw/s400/GBM-WO97-4888-077-001.jpg" width="258" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f6f7; color: #232327; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Long service attestation, all arms except cavalry, version 28, March 1901; a print-run of 40,000. This particular version was completed on the 9th June 1902 when Frederick James Frost joined the 2nd Life Guards.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1pvSPKoiWwc/WQbs1tJdDGI/AAAAAAAAK6s/j4npW0SmvWU5X_Dc5aTQRW5LnKeoLLHsACLcB/s1600/GBM-WO97-4286-154-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1pvSPKoiWwc/WQbs1tJdDGI/AAAAAAAAK6s/j4npW0SmvWU5X_Dc5aTQRW5LnKeoLLHsACLcB/s400/GBM-WO97-4286-154-001.jpg" width="250" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f6f7; color: #232327; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Long service attestation, all arms, version 32, May 1904; a print-run of 30,000. This particular version was completed on the 21st February 1910 when John James Bagley joined the Rifle Brigade.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f6f7; color: #232327; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">All images on this blog post are Crown Copyright, The National Archives.</span></div>
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<br />Paul Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050239712431204134.post-2022168157226703212017-04-28T14:44:00.001+01:002017-05-02T07:16:15.050+01:00Army Form B.267A - cavalry attestation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lhAXHvo4Pxk/WQNDdjo4k5I/AAAAAAAAK48/ts9bzLHBMmUATxllTLn-B5lfNfrwrQM6wCLcB/s1600/GBM-WO97-4322-087-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lhAXHvo4Pxk/WQNDdjo4k5I/AAAAAAAAK48/ts9bzLHBMmUATxllTLn-B5lfNfrwrQM6wCLcB/s400/GBM-WO97-4322-087-001.jpg" width="252" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's a good example of an Army Form that can't seem to make it's mind up: poor old Army Form B.267A. One can hardly blame it for indecisiveness. After all, it doesn't even seem to have a proper place in Army Form hierarchy, somehow squeezed in between Army Form B.267 and Army Form B.268. The version above, printed by Ford & Tilt Ltd was printed in 1898 and professes to be for men wishing to join the Cavalry of the Line for Long Service; that is 12 years' service with the colours and no reserve commitment. Incidentally, Ford and Tilt Ltd had been acquired by Hazell Watson & Viney Ltd in 1884 although here we still see F&T appearing on this form. On later forms, this would become HWV.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lo and behold, here's version 1 of the Hazell Watson & Viney Ltd B.267A: 6,000 copies printed in February 1900.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lYIvVUduzVI/WQNAMyEpf7I/AAAAAAAAK4k/7um4YVRTcIIzYwdkn4cAzkVolwpx0QDNQCLcB/s1600/GBM-WO97-4714-006-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lYIvVUduzVI/WQNAMyEpf7I/AAAAAAAAK4k/7um4YVRTcIIzYwdkn4cAzkVolwpx0QDNQCLcB/s400/GBM-WO97-4714-006-001.jpg" width="250" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Skipping ahead somewhat to version 5, of the Hazell Watson & Viney Ltd form, these 2,500 copies printed in November 1903 are now for short service men who wish to join not the cavalry of the line but the household cavalry. Terms of enlistment are eight years with the colours and four years on the reserve.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Version 6, Hazell Watson & Viney Ltd; 3,000 copies printed in March 1904.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8qvq4AD7UM/WQNBV86Vb8I/AAAAAAAAK4w/_3zg4IgEJiYJKnh8lq9OM3dKAcnG8dfBwCLcB/s1600/GBM-WO97-4234-140-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8qvq4AD7UM/WQNBV86Vb8I/AAAAAAAAK4w/_3zg4IgEJiYJKnh8lq9OM3dKAcnG8dfBwCLcB/s400/GBM-WO97-4234-140-001.jpg" width="255" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is still version six, albeit adapted to attest a man joining the line cavalry. The word "Household" has been summarily scored through.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'll add the missing versions in, as and when I come across them (assuming I remember to do so). All of these images are Crown Copyright, The National Archives. </span></div>
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<br />Paul Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050239712431204134.post-56439928692173275722017-04-28T06:58:00.000+01:002017-04-28T06:58:19.483+01:00Army Form B.133 - drivers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dsilftpr6nQ/WQLP8Csl88I/AAAAAAAAK34/K9_r-3EEzCEteko5r3g4mQe0AMEwpOtPgCLcB/s1600/GBM-WO97-4285-160-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dsilftpr6nQ/WQLP8Csl88I/AAAAAAAAK34/K9_r-3EEzCEteko5r3g4mQe0AMEwpOtPgCLcB/s400/GBM-WO97-4285-160-001.jpg" width="251" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This attestation form for Army Service Corps drivers was first introduced in January 1903 in a print-run of 5000. Terms of service are clearly stated here as two years with the colours and ten years on the reserve.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y-Ll98MEmZ4/WQLOmQuHOwI/AAAAAAAAK3s/CeoXapGMMdAYGx3h2VCdWczcHXStKX3-wCEw/s1600/GBM-WO97-4235-095-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y-Ll98MEmZ4/WQLOmQuHOwI/AAAAAAAAK3s/CeoXapGMMdAYGx3h2VCdWczcHXStKX3-wCEw/s400/GBM-WO97-4235-095-001.jpg" width="247" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The document was re-issued in various iterations over the coming years. The one above is the second version of this form which was printed in September 1903 in a print run of 5000 too.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9RQ6UXl9T7A/WQLOHmtSi3I/AAAAAAAAK3o/sPJvgfWlbZMVt6aauyU8YHX9PzbrhjtGQCLcB/s1600/GBM-WO97-4235-050-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9RQ6UXl9T7A/WQLOHmtSi3I/AAAAAAAAK3o/sPJvgfWlbZMVt6aauyU8YHX9PzbrhjtGQCLcB/s400/GBM-WO97-4235-050-001.jpg" width="258" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This version of the form dates to May 1904 and was issued in a run of 15,000.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dYEQnTRkzwA/WQLNs1TWJ8I/AAAAAAAAK3k/rW58gINzJpITq1J4BSEnsKsudT-NSIP3ACLcB/s1600/GBM-WO97-4235-042-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dYEQnTRkzwA/WQLNs1TWJ8I/AAAAAAAAK3k/rW58gINzJpITq1J4BSEnsKsudT-NSIP3ACLcB/s400/GBM-WO97-4235-042-001.jpg" width="253" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This version of Army Form B.133 dates to November 1905 and was printed in a run of 15,000. The obvious difference here is that this is now to be used for drivers enlisting with the Army Service Corps <i>and</i> the Royal Engineers.
Month of printing, print-run quantity and version number appear on all of these documents in the top left hand-corner. HWV stands for Hazell Watson & Viney Ltd, the Aylesbury printers responsible for this rather nice contract with the British Army.
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8hBO4PbjxZo/WQLYimomCII/AAAAAAAAK4I/FUW9-_q-4fIRh2ndLebDTkUu-Nus6mduwCLcB/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8hBO4PbjxZo/WQLYimomCII/AAAAAAAAK4I/FUW9-_q-4fIRh2ndLebDTkUu-Nus6mduwCLcB/s400/Untitled.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All images on this page are Crown Copyright, The National Archives.</span></div>
Paul Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050239712431204134.post-322537705267444192017-02-26T06:38:00.000+00:002017-02-26T06:41:11.794+00:00MP X.9 - Pensioner's record card<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hFS0dil_m1I/WLJ1GWMvuaI/AAAAAAAAKkA/4sb2AtA5C5McfjtWnPviPE00UwInCFIYgCLcB/s1600/GBM-WO363-4-007301062-00633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hFS0dil_m1I/WLJ1GWMvuaI/AAAAAAAAKkA/4sb2AtA5C5McfjtWnPviPE00UwInCFIYgCLcB/s400/GBM-WO363-4-007301062-00633.jpg" width="256" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This document is commonly seen in soldiers' files in series WO 364 (Soldiers' pensions from the First World War). It's a Ministry of Pensions' form rather than an Army Form, as such, hence the MP title. In the absence of other documents though - or read alongside a partial service history - it can provide useful information such as the year of birth, date of enlistment and degree of disablement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In this particular case, the date of enlistment is noted as a date of re-enlistment because Arthur Nixon (no relation) had originally enlisted for four years with the 7th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. That was in 1912 and he'd served in the UK until March 1916. In this man's case, only this Ministry of Pensions card and his original four-page attestation survive and so this card is useful in that indicates subsequent service with the Labour Corps and records that his degree of disablement - aggravated by war service - was still at 20 per cent in 1921.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lykrEM4-1a8/WLJ1Iid--sI/AAAAAAAAKkE/fb39F5ClUj4yzeGxlNArk3Mp-pYStggwACLcB/s1600/GBM-WO363-4-007301062-00634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lykrEM4-1a8/WLJ1Iid--sI/AAAAAAAAKkE/fb39F5ClUj4yzeGxlNArk3Mp-pYStggwACLcB/s400/GBM-WO363-4-007301062-00634.jpg" width="257" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The images on this post are Crown Copyright, The National Archives.</span></div>
Paul Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050239712431204134.post-77692137796989138482017-02-05T16:14:00.000+00:002017-02-05T16:19:22.601+00:00Army Form C.309 - 2nd Class Certificate of Education 1923<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5SQ7LKP898s/WJdORcED42I/AAAAAAAAKa8/zPNJzzLkCBoeHfr1_s3RtK4pbV-IKnj3ACLcB/s1600/IMG_6048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5SQ7LKP898s/WJdORcED42I/AAAAAAAAKa8/zPNJzzLkCBoeHfr1_s3RtK4pbV-IKnj3ACLcB/s320/IMG_6048.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's another example of an Army Certificate of Education, 2nd Class; not the most pristine example, to be sure, but it's good enough. This one was issued to a Coldstream Guardsman in 1926 after he'd passed in English, Maths, Map Reading and History. I am unsure whether "Handicraft" was permanently struck off this particular certificate or just in this guardsman's case. In any event, history strikes me as being a far more entertaining subject than handicraft.</div>
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The detail in the bottom left of this document notes that this form was part of a print run of 25,000 in February 1923.</div>
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<a href="http://armyformsandattestations.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/army-form-c309-2nd-class-certificate-of.html" target="_blank">See the 1888 version here</a>.</div>
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<br />Paul Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050239712431204134.post-33312152174242069182017-01-30T11:40:00.001+00:002017-01-30T11:40:51.969+00:00Arm Form WO.967 - Militia, conditional discharge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L9uiQ8rpl9k/WI8k1ampOsI/AAAAAAAAKaU/d6bOeBav20sScU-9cPOq8KZSFi4tqldhACLcB/s1600/GBM-WO97-3897-061-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L9uiQ8rpl9k/WI8k1ampOsI/AAAAAAAAKaU/d6bOeBav20sScU-9cPOq8KZSFi4tqldhACLcB/s400/GBM-WO97-3897-061-002.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
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Army Form WO.967 must have been commonly used. It is the document by which a man's commanding officer authorised his discharge from the militia so that he could enlist in Her Majesty's (or HIs Majesty's) Regular Forces. </div>
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The example I have chosen (which is Crown Copyright, The National Archives) dates to 1878 and was part of a print run of 16,000 which had been issued in February of that year. </div>
Paul Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050239712431204134.post-80251212543082996402017-01-30T11:17:00.001+00:002017-01-30T11:17:43.302+00:00Documents on Discharge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lnmNdhx4EEg/WI8fparuJXI/AAAAAAAAKaE/_C1OiWlv_UIMBsKbDIAWZ4Jtkfwm4oJkwCLcB/s1600/1884-1904%2B-%2BFECAINmilitary9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lnmNdhx4EEg/WI8fparuJXI/AAAAAAAAKaE/_C1OiWlv_UIMBsKbDIAWZ4Jtkfwm4oJkwCLcB/s400/1884-1904%2B-%2BFECAINmilitary9.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
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"When a soldier is to be discharged..." so begins the opening sentence on the back of this form, "the documents specified in the margin, arranged in the same sequence, will be placed inside this form." There are 18 separate forms noted in the margin but it is rare indeed to find all of these still surviving in archival files today. </div>
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The image is Crown Copyright, The National Archives.</div>
Paul Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050239712431204134.post-72473022099597474082017-01-15T09:41:00.001+00:002017-01-15T09:41:43.159+00:00Army Form B.131 - Clinical Chart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cMZV2NdSRMs/WHtDRfqT2BI/AAAAAAAAKWA/zJlYo5gfjNU1Hwz0pgpq-7mpI0nkOrGBgCLcB/s1600/GBM-WO363-4-007302732-00156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cMZV2NdSRMs/WHtDRfqT2BI/AAAAAAAAKWA/zJlYo5gfjNU1Hwz0pgpq-7mpI0nkOrGBgCLcB/s400/GBM-WO363-4-007302732-00156.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've had this image on my desktop for ages. I shudder to think of the thousands of images from soldiers' service paperts that I've looked at over the years, and every so often I come across a page that I don't recall seeing before. This was certainly the case with this Army Form B.131 which is a clinical chart, in this case reporting the temperature, pulse per minute, respiration per minute and motions per 24 hours for 20-year-old 202138 Corporal Vernon Swatman of the 2/5th South Staffordshire Regiment who was at Southmead Hospital, Bristol having had his leg amputated. Note how high his temperature rose after his operation on the 26th January.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vernon had originally attested under the Derby Scheme in December 1915 and was admitted to hospital on the 26th October 1917 before being discharged nearly five months later in March 1918. He was discharged from the army in October 1918.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Findmypast has a huge amount of information on this man from his birth in December 1897, to school admission records, census returns for 1901 and 1911, military service record in WO 363, marriages in 1925 and 1929, an entry in the 1939 Register, and entry in Kelly's directory for Wolverhampton and finally his death in 1978. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The image on this post is Crown Copyright, The National Archives.</span>Paul Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050239712431204134.post-60773268537322740912016-12-04T10:45:00.002+00:002016-12-04T10:47:56.131+00:00Army Form W.3118 - Field Medical Card<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Vq1LSiBh0g/WEPwr3ePBrI/AAAAAAAAKCg/KOuHWS5oVBkKZSLbYG9mK7jZvshUrMx3gCLcB/s1600/GBM-WO363-4-007302732-00168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Vq1LSiBh0g/WEPwr3ePBrI/AAAAAAAAKCg/KOuHWS5oVBkKZSLbYG9mK7jZvshUrMx3gCLcB/s400/GBM-WO363-4-007302732-00168.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This Field Medical Card, officially Army Form W.3118, is uncommonly seen in surviving service records. It would have been completed when a man was admitted as a casualty to a Field Ambulance and would have accompanied him on his journey to the casualty clearing station and then base hospital - if he made it that far.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9RziGEb2-8E/WEPwr22rFcI/AAAAAAAAKCc/MpU_tg89BQsPo9ymbme4T5WMzOyBHz78ACLcB/s1600/GBM-WO363-4-007302732-00169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9RziGEb2-8E/WEPwr22rFcI/AAAAAAAAKCc/MpU_tg89BQsPo9ymbme4T5WMzOyBHz78ACLcB/s400/GBM-WO363-4-007302732-00169.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This particular card was part of a run printed in March 1917 and started its particular journey in September 1917 when Corporal Vernon Swatman of the 2/5th South Staffordshire Regiment was admitted to the 2/2nd North Midland Field Ambulance as a battle casualty with a smashed kneecap.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The images on this blog post are Crown Copyright The National Archives.</span></div>
<br />Paul Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050239712431204134.post-30892247186490082602016-11-23T15:26:00.001+00:002016-11-23T15:35:14.572+00:00Army Form B.271A - Attestation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tBYPG2mw0ik/WDWwmTO_B2I/AAAAAAAAJ-s/psHypSOnHQAhPm18DDFEZd1mUNkzsn-TQCLcB/s1600/Scanned%2Bfrom%2Ba%2BXerox%2Bmultifunction%2Bdevice002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tBYPG2mw0ik/WDWwmTO_B2I/AAAAAAAAJ-s/psHypSOnHQAhPm18DDFEZd1mUNkzsn-TQCLcB/s400/Scanned%2Bfrom%2Ba%2BXerox%2Bmultifunction%2Bdevice002.jpg" width="243" /></a></div>
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This attestation form which, so it says at the top, came into effect from September 1921, marks quite a departure from those attestation forms used prior to this date. For a start, this is a two-page document rather than a three or four-page form, and of these two pages, the first page is almost entirely given over to the conditions; the "contract" of enlistment between the man and the "Crown".</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x06PqvefQxA/WDWwnDouXJI/AAAAAAAAJ-w/tapVRv7q7Qo7vxUtUE4HFY5a8RN5bx6WgCLcB/s1600/Scanned%2Bfrom%2Ba%2BXerox%2Bmultifunction%2Bdevice003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x06PqvefQxA/WDWwnDouXJI/AAAAAAAAJ-w/tapVRv7q7Qo7vxUtUE4HFY5a8RN5bx6WgCLcB/s400/Scanned%2Bfrom%2Ba%2BXerox%2Bmultifunction%2Bdevice003.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
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Page two asks for some new information but there is also a lot missing. The nationality of the recruit's parents is requested, as is the recruit's date of birth and number of dependent children. Missing from this form though are next of kin details, marriage details, children's birth details and a physical description on enlistment.</div>
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Also, noticably missing from this 14-year-old's paper is his regimental number which would normally have been applied when he presented himself at the regimental depot. It makes me wonder whether this lad did actually see the attestation through.</div>
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My grateful thanks to Graham Thompson for sending this form to me. This particular issue dates to June 1927 and was obviously still in use when Frederick Gray signed up in April 1928.</div>
<br />Paul Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050239712431204134.post-50400321272305060972016-11-19T07:44:00.000+00:002016-11-19T07:44:59.817+00:00New monarch, old attestation form<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2duYe8ewDRM/WC83tlCq-3I/AAAAAAAAJ7M/htBr_IKP1VwTaEqmQO3Nkyuk58lD_Cq9QCLcB/s1600/GBM-WO97-0236-001-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2duYe8ewDRM/WC83tlCq-3I/AAAAAAAAJ7M/htBr_IKP1VwTaEqmQO3Nkyuk58lD_Cq9QCLcB/s400/GBM-WO97-0236-001-001.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
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This from, which was completed in December 1837, is lovely, but it's lovelier still if you read from bottom up, starting with that hugely ornate Royal cypher.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XuOb5sjssOU/WC84jOLRqnI/AAAAAAAAJ7Q/0Ed5hmPlKL8jACQxEWl5_-nXoxA4eY1jQCLcB/s1600/Royal%2BCypher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XuOb5sjssOU/WC84jOLRqnI/AAAAAAAAJ7Q/0Ed5hmPlKL8jACQxEWl5_-nXoxA4eY1jQCLcB/s400/Royal%2BCypher.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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What a lovely piece of artwork. Now scroll up further still:</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YwB7lbYn250/WC848_S4PRI/AAAAAAAAJ7U/vGOGdKOYorErcNp_hlrCXGSlkO2_Nl2JwCLcB/s1600/HM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="47" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YwB7lbYn250/WC848_S4PRI/AAAAAAAAJ7U/vGOGdKOYorErcNp_hlrCXGSlkO2_Nl2JwCLcB/s400/HM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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King William IV had died on the 20th June 1837 and Queen Victoria would be crowned a little over a year later on the 28th June 1838. Nevertheless, she was the uncrowned queen by December 1837, although new stationery had obviously not been ordered. Whoever attempted to alter "His" to "Her" did a pretty good job of the letter I, but in those pre-corrective fluid days, changing a letter S into a letter T was always going to be problematic. It seems almost pedantic to point out that the royal crown should also have been changed. The one guarded by the lion and the unicorn is King William's crown, Queen Victoria's would be a different shape.</div>
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<br />Paul Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050239712431204134.post-14554737680732503472016-11-18T17:12:00.000+00:002016-11-18T17:12:48.392+00:00Army Form B.179 - Medical History of an Invalid<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zV5-QwPKLXU/WC8wgl1AzjI/AAAAAAAAJ60/XKup57hIDaoUMoIjodoe8nUFMsXimEwwwCLcB/s1600/GBM-WO97-3615-092-008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zV5-QwPKLXU/WC8wgl1AzjI/AAAAAAAAJ60/XKup57hIDaoUMoIjodoe8nUFMsXimEwwwCLcB/s400/GBM-WO97-3615-092-008.jpg" width="252" /></a></div>
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This four-page form was in common usage in Her Majesty's Army and this particular example dates to 1896. It would ultimately be replaced by Army Form B.179a which would be more gently titled, Medical report on a soldier... This document was one of the standard forms which was to be included in a file of discharge documents and is one of the few files which does not seem to have been routinely weeded by the War Office / Ministry of Pensions or MoD. They obiously recognised its imporatnce as a historical summary of service and for today's military or family historian it is no less important.</div>
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The opening page, above, gives a good general summary of service, which in this example amounts to 16 years service at home, in Gibraltar and in Egypt. Date of enlistment, date of form-filling and age of the soldier are all present making this a very useful document indeed.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5x8WId6Buno/WC8wgu-8nnI/AAAAAAAAJ64/gEmPqjqPfL0WL0XgcjEo5e1XGAS3h65dQCLcB/s1600/GBM-WO97-3615-092-009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5x8WId6Buno/WC8wgu-8nnI/AAAAAAAAJ64/gEmPqjqPfL0WL0XgcjEo5e1XGAS3h65dQCLcB/s400/GBM-WO97-3615-092-009.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
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The pages which follow detail the nature of the disabilty, the degree to which it affects the individual and, finally, the opinion of the Medical Board. Questions throughout the document examine the character of the man. What are his havits like? Has he been a defaulter? Has the disability been "aggravated by intemperance, vice or misconduct?" Given the fondmness of alcohol by the British soldiery in general, it was hardly an unreasonable question to ask. </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DI_rbWqxhu8/WC8wgt8AI1I/AAAAAAAAJ6w/PjNuCG3gmwgHwT5q1AzjyqdybAnpLxtcgCLcB/s1600/GBM-WO97-3615-092-010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DI_rbWqxhu8/WC8wgt8AI1I/AAAAAAAAJ6w/PjNuCG3gmwgHwT5q1AzjyqdybAnpLxtcgCLcB/s400/GBM-WO97-3615-092-010.jpg" width="252" /></a></div>
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In this particualr case, theman in question was a staff sergeant whose habits and conduct were rated as "Regular, Very Good, Temperate" and his tubercle of the lung was not adjudged to have been as a result of his own imprudence.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yPAWHkVH8fw/WC8wgzsGGsI/AAAAAAAAJ68/87rFJYZlSoQaKUNWeHysFW6aJTs-WkxywCLcB/s1600/GBM-WO97-3615-092-011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yPAWHkVH8fw/WC8wgzsGGsI/AAAAAAAAJ68/87rFJYZlSoQaKUNWeHysFW6aJTs-WkxywCLcB/s400/GBM-WO97-3615-092-011.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
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It's a shame that this form does not a give a permanert address for the soldier, simply a hospital or station transferred to for further disposal. In this case, the man was sent to the Herbert Hospital in Woolwich which, 120 years later has been converted into flats called the Royal Herbert Pavilions. Sales prices today are in excexx of £400,000.</div>
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Images reprodiced here are Crown Copyright, The National Archives.</div>
<br />Paul Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050239712431204134.post-64753418827917338222016-11-05T09:17:00.000+00:002016-11-05T09:17:04.979+00:00Army Form D.489 - Certificate of Sobriety & Trustworthiness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5eGO4Ht1pVo/WB2gdF0N-DI/AAAAAAAAJz8/aMatYjB35T8iZws5-PPGdTq6dWu-NdZ4ACLcB/s1600/GBM-WO363-4-007282828-00529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5eGO4Ht1pVo/WB2gdF0N-DI/AAAAAAAAJz8/aMatYjB35T8iZws5-PPGdTq6dWu-NdZ4ACLcB/s400/GBM-WO363-4-007282828-00529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This documents is very much of its era. Even contemplating issuing such a form these days would no doubt be seen as an infringement of human rights. However, back in 1915 when this form was issued, it would have been perfectly reasonable for an employer to request this evidence particularly, it has to be said, in the light of the British soldier's fondness for alcohol.</div>
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In this case however, <a href="http://worldwar1veterans.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/l16490-pte-henry-tomkins-2nd-royal.html" target="_blank">Henry Tomkins</a>, already a veteran of Gallipoli and the Somme, was still only 16-years-old when this form was completed. He was pulled out of the army at the request of his mother who had already seen Henry's twin brother William killed in April 1916. Henry would later join the Royal Navy and end his naval career as a stoker petty officer.</div>
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You can read more about Henry Tomkin's military service on my <a href="http://worldwar1veterans.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">World War One veterans' blog</a>. Henry's army record and navy record both survive in WO 364 and ADM 188 respectively and both can be viewed on <a href="http://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=2114&awinaffid=94297&clickref=&p=" target="_blank">Findmypast</a>. Henry's army record is particularly interesting as it contains much correspondence from his mother - as well as this quaint document.</div>
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The image on this page is Crown Copyright, The National Archives.</div>
<br />Paul Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.com0