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Hello again,
I have been given a "The Small Book." of Walter Durnell No.5091. It contains his Attestation into E company.The 2nd Somerset Light Infantry in 1898.By a Captain J.Smith. Along with his Particulars Of Service. Which show him to have been in South Africa from 1899 to 1902. His medal awards were the Queens South Africa Medal with clasps for Tugela Heights,Relief of Ladysmith, Cape Colony,Transvaal,Orange Free State and also the Kings South Africa Medal. Sadly it also shows that he rose through the ranks but suffered a reduction to the ranks for 'absence' (my italics)in 1903? The writing is difficult to read but it appears to say that He "forfeits (something) pay and goes straight from prison to duty". does anyone have any ideas about this.
gerald

Gerald,

Where a soldier defaulted, the records can often say that Good Conduct (GC) pay was lost. Might that be what you are seeing?

Regards
David

Thank you David.
You are right it does read "forfeits GC pay". It's obvious,now that you have pointed it out. I have sweated blood trying to decipher it! I thought I had put this post in the wrong part of the Forum when there was no reaction to it at first.
regards
Gerald

Gerald,

I must have a look and find out how much good conduct pay was worth to a man to understand how much of a penalty was imposed on them.

Kind regards
David

Hi David,
If you could find that out it would add some 'meat' to Pte Durrells bones indeed. I would love to know what caused the "absence"? Was it a Woman, was it Wine, or the unbelievably tempting combination of both!
Thank you for your interest anyway.
regards
Gerald

Gerald,

Have a look at this book, the Victorian Army at Home .

It contains interesting information on pay rates in 1899.

Kind regards
David