Help Deciphering Military Record

[Dr Feelgood]

Hi all, would it be possible to have some assistance in deciphering the attached military record of a relative in the Royal Irish Fusiliers? I can see some instances of insubordination but would appreciate if the abbreviations could be translated. Some of the handwriting is also difficult to ascertain as the phrases are quite specific to the military lexicon of the time (pre-1900). For example, it is unclear to me if it is one charge fo striking the superior officer or multiple incidents. The charge on 30th June is also very unclear to me. Many thanks for any assistance!

[philipsearching]

I have not logged in to Rootschat for a while, and have only just seen your query.  So, here goes:

Roy Ir Fus = Royal Irish Fusiliers), Bn = Battalion,  Pte = Private, Impt = Imprisonment, C.O = Commanding Officer, Wt. O = Warrant Officer, and A.O = Army Order.  The abbreviation which could be H.L would probably be Hard Labour.  The abbreviation [?]CM could be [Field?] Court Martial.

(Below I have moved the dates to the left for convenience)
24.9.95  Depot   Attested    Pte
8.1.96  2nd Bn    Posted
17.7.96  Awarded 14 days Impt [H.L?] by C.O for drunkenness & striking a Wt.O
17.7.96  In Prison
24.12.97  Awarded 14 days Impt [H.L?] for offering violence to his superior officer
[?].1.98  Awaiting trial.  Tried by [?]CM & convicted of striking his superior officer sentenced 84 days Impt [H.L?]
1.2.98  In prison.  Pte
1 May 98  Elected to serve under the provisions of Army Order of 2nd April 1898
26.10.98  !st Bn    Posted    Pte
1st to 14.6.99  Imp by CO for 14 days
26th Jun 99  In confinement awaiting trial
30th Jun 99  Convicted of making away with by destruction his Arms + sentenced 56 days impt H.L[?] and stoppages
24th Aug 99  Released
11.10.01  Granted [?] Pay.  Paid War Gratuity under A.O 5 of 1901
30.6.02   & A.O 134 of 1902
10.12.02  Reserve    Transferred
23.9.07  Discharged on termination of his first period of engagement.    Pte.

A brief summary: your man signed up in 1895 for seven years in the regular army followed by five years in the reserves.  He had a few 'bolshie' episodes (possibly due to boredom leading to over-imbibing alcohol since the incidents stopped when the regiment went overseas)which would have counted against him being promoted.  His two War Gratuities will be because of service in South Africa in the 2nd Boer War.


Hope this helps.
Philip

[Andy J2022]

I agree with everything philipsearching has said.
HL does mean hard labour.
It was a field court martial, in South Africa
11.10.01 Granted 1d Good Conduct Pay (ie I old penny per day)

[Wexflyer]

So if this chap was granted good conduct pay, what would it take not to be awarded same? Killing his C.O.? [Serious question].

[Andy J2022]

So if this chap was granted good conduct pay, what would it take not to be awarded same? Killing his C.O.? [Serious question].

Yes it is pretty incredible. In theory he only needed to keep his nose clean for 2 years to earn his first GC stripe and pay. As he was released from his third prison sentence on 24 Aug 1899, that  left him just over the 2 years needed for the award on 10 Oct 1901. It could well be that he turned out to be a good soldier, as philipsearching says, when in the field, and this award was intended to encourage him!