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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: unlikely_librarian on Friday 06 December 24 21:39 GMT (UK)

Title: Honourably discharged from the army — but for what? (Medical)
Post by: unlikely_librarian on Friday 06 December 24 21:39 GMT (UK)

My great-grandfather served in WW1 and received an honourable discharge due to disability, although I can't make out the reason on his pension ledger. My mom says he suffered lung damage from chlorine gas during the war, if that's any clue...

Title: Re: Honourably discharged from the army — but for what? (Medical)
Post by: Comberton on Friday 06 December 24 21:45 GMT (UK)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurasthenia

Title: Re: Honourably discharged from the army — but for what? (Medical)
Post by: unlikely_librarian on Friday 06 December 24 21:59 GMT (UK)

Thank you, I didn't know it was shell shock.

Title: Re: Honourably discharged from the army — but for what? (Medical)
Post by: Andy J2022 on Friday 06 December 24 22:05 GMT (UK)

It was the medical term usually used for what was colloquially referred to as shellshock, although at the time of the First World War not all Army doctors agreed that it was a genuine condition. See Chapters 6 and 7 of Blindfold and Alone by Cathryn Corns and John Hughes-Wilson published in London by Cassel 2001

Title: Re: Honourably discharged from the army — but for what? (Medical)
Post by: unlikely_librarian on Friday 06 December 24 22:08 GMT (UK)

Thank you, I will look that up. In the family we always believed he was discharged due to lung damage from chlorine gas (which he also had, but it's interesting to know he wasn't discharged for that).