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Hi Andy and thanks again for all your effort on this

So based on the assumption that 4 years and 213 days is calculated up to 10 Apr 1876 and that anytime between his desertion and completion of sentence is not included in that calculation then enlistment would have been on 21 January 1871 (fits with your regimental number allocation sequence.)

How did I get that, my calculation would be 4 years and 213 days less 73 we know about post sentence serving so enlistment would be 4 years and 140 days (213-73) before 10 June desertion date.  This is 21 Jan 1871.  But for me late January 1871 is close enough.

Looking again at the pension record where 30 pound seems to be a common buy out amount and as you calculated Rowlands's deferred pay would be not cover it.  How Rowland came by that amount on 15 Apr 1876 will be another mystery maybe to return to later.

That closes the topic for me and thanks again for your help.

Tony

 

I need help to understand how army service length is calculated and how a court martial sentence length would interact with date of discharge.

I have calculated length of time between known dates and cannot reconcile how the calculation is made.

My 2GG grandfather was in the 12th Lancers from at least 1871 to 1876

The known facts

1871 census appears as soldier. 12th Lancers, East cavalry barracks, Aldershot. Census date 2 April although form revised 30 April 1871

Forces war records 1871 worldwide army index. Started 1 April complete 30 June 1871.  Manchester recruiting depot district 7, Service number - unnumbered, location Manchester, rank recruit.

Forces war records 1871 worldwide army index. Started 1 April complete 30 June 1871.  12th (Prince of Wales Royal) Lancers, Regimental number 1215, location Aldershot, rank Private.

He was listed in the Police Gazette of 7 July 1875 as having deserted on 10 June 1875 when at Manchester, with 12th Lancers, Regimental number 1215.

Court martialed at Shorncliffe (Kent) on 9 December 1875 and was sentenced to 56 days hard labour for desertion.

On 15 April 1876 Pte. 1215 was discharged from 12th Lancers with a bad character following 4 years and 213 days service of which only 73 days counted towards pension.

Date calculations

56 days after 9 Dec 1875 is 3 Feb 1876

56 days before 15 April 1876 is 19 Feb 1876, or 129 days before 9 Dec 1875 

4 years and 213 days before 15 April 1876 is 15 Sep 1871
4 years and 213 days before 9 Dec 1875 is 10 May 1871
4 years and 213 days before 10 Jun 1875 is 9 Nov 1870

Questions
How does length of sentence reconcile with court martial and discharge date?
What would be normal for start of sentence after court martial and end of sentence and discharge?

When does length of service end - on desertion, or on discharge?

Because of the 1871 census, 2GG was in army in April 1871 that would seem to make service end on desertion?

What causes pensionable days to be so different from service days?

Thanks for any help on this. 

Help please to decipher the unknown places on this extract from my grandfathers military history
 
According to the instructions on the form countries should be listed and home used for all the UK
Which if adhered means the unknowns are countries?

I can read Home, India, Unknown, Mesopotamia and something else?, unknown, Malta, Home, India

The unknowns are for shorter periods, as is Malta, if that helps. 7,25, & 22 days respectively.

Thanks

Hi

A restoration please for the photo of my grandad in India in the 1920's
This is the Duke of Cornwall's light infantry regimental police in camp on a march in Muzaffarnagar in India. The words on the back of the photo/postcard (unsent) which also names my grandfather as 3rd from left

Thanks