Winslow History | Army discharge papers

Army discharge papers

John Varney, 1801

TNA, WO 121/72

The Fourth, or King’s own Regiment of Infantry, whereof Lt. Genl The Earl of Chatham KG is Colonel
THESE are to certify, That the Bearer hereof John Varney, Private, in Captain Wood’s Company of the aforesaid Regiment, Born in the Parish of Legesellar [=Ludgershall] in, or near, the Market Town of Winslow in the County of Buckingham Aged Twenty One Years and by Trade a Labourer hath served honestly and faithfully in the said Regiment three & a half Years ; but by being rendered unfit for further Service, in consequence of a Contracted Leg which he acquired when serving in the aforesaid Regiment

is hereby Discharged, and humbly recommended as an Object of His Majesty’s Royal Bounty of CHELSEA HOSPITAL. He having first received all just Demands of Pay, Clothing &c. from his Entry into the said Regiment, to the Date of this Discharge, as appears by the Receipt on the Back hereof.

GIVEN under my Hand, and the Seal of the Regiment, at Thorncliffe Camp this Eighteenth Day of June 1801 T. Brinley [signature] Colonel
4th The King’s Own Regiment

[reverse of same form]

I John Varney do acknowledge that I have received all my Clothing, Pay, Arrears of Pay, and all just Demands whatsoever, from the Time of my Inlisting in the Regiment mentioned on the other Side, to this present Day of my Discharge, as witness my Hand this Eighteenth Day of June 1811

Witness J. Brownhill [signature] John Varney his mark

4th Regiment of Foot
General Earl Chatham
John Varney
Aged 21}
3½ } years
Legaseller
Buckingham
Labourer

Thomas Saxby, 1819

TNA, WO 97/957/38

HIS MAJESTY’S 86th Regt of Foot
Whereof General Lord Viscount Killmorey is Colonel

THESE ARE TO CERTIFY, THAT Thomas Saxby, born in the Parish of Winslow in, or near, the Town of Winslow in the County of Buckingham was enlisted for the aforesaid Regiment at Bedford in the County of Bedford on the 8th Day of May 1801 at the Age of Sixteen years for Unlimited

THAT he hath served in the army for the space of Sixteen Years and 270 Days, after the Age of Eighteen, according to the subjoined
STATEMENT OF SERVICE
IN WHAT CORPS               86th Regiment
PERIOD OF SERVICE        From     May 8 1801         To           Feby 1 1820
Yrs          Days
Private                                                                                                                  18           270
Service prior to Age of Eighteen to be deducted                                                2
Total Service                                                                                                      16           270
In East or West Indies to be included in the aforegoing total        17           133

THAT in consequence of Being subject to Epilepsy and strictures of his urethra
HE IS DISCHARGED Thos J. Wharrie [signature] Assist. Surgeon 86th Reg

THAT he is not to my Knowledge, incapacitated by the Sentence of a General Court Martial from receiving his Pension.

THAT his conduct as a soldier has been good

THAT he has received all just Demands of Pay, Clothing &c. from his Entry into the said Regiment, to the Date of this Discharge, as appears by his Receipt underneath.

I Thomas Saxby do acknowledge that I have received all my Clothing, Pay, Arrears of Pay, and all just Demands whatsoever, from the Time of my Entry into the service, to the Date of this Discharge.

Witnessed by M Grant Lt 86th Reg [signature] Col Serjeant
Signature of the soldier Thos Saxby [signature]

TO prevent any Improper use being made of this Discharge, by it falling into other Hands, the following is a Description of the said Thomas Saxby. He is about 30 Years of Age, is Five Feet Eight ¾Inches in height. Brown hair Hazle [sic] Eyes Dark Complexion, and by Trade or Occupation a Sadler

Given under my Hand and the Seal of the Regiment at Canterbury this 28th Day November 1819

86th Regt of Foot
Lord Kilmorey
Thomas Saxby Serj.
Aged                     30
Served                 18 9/2
Under age       2 = 16 9/12
India 17 4/12 --- 8 8/12 = 25 5/12
Being subject to Epilepsy and strictures of his urethra
Good
Winslow
Buckingham
5/8¾      Brown   hazle
Sadler

Notes: Thomas Saxby was the son of Thomas and Arabella Saxby, bap. 31 Aug 1788 at Winslow, suggesting that he was younger than 16 when he enlisted. In the 1841 Census he was lodging at the Royal Oak, and gave his occupation as printer. He died in 1844 aged 55.

George Allen, 1866

TNA, WO 97/1306/113

HER MAJESTY’S Royal REG. OF Artillery
Whereof HRH The Duke of Cambridge is Colonel.
[Place and date]               Aldershott [sic] Augt 16th 1886.
PROCEEDINGS OF A REGIMENTAL BOARD, held this day, in conformity to the Articles of War, for the purpose of verifying and recording the Services, Conduct, Character, and cause of Discharge of No. 2883 Gnr George Allen of the Regiment above mentioned.
President            Major W,W,A. Lut[...] R.A.
Members            Lieut N.C. Drysdale R.A.                 Lieut A. Campbell R.A.
THE BOARD having examined and compared the Regimental Records, the Soldier’s Book, and such other Documents as appeared to them to be necessary, report that after making every deduction required by Her Majesty’s Regulations, the Service up to this day, which he is entitled to reckon, amounts to ____ years 256 days, as shown by the detailed Statement on the 2nd page ; …
… further that his DISCHARGE is proposed in consequence of … his being unfit for further service.
With regard to CHARACTER and CONDUCT of No. 2883 Gnr George Allen Roy.Art. the Board have to report that upon reference to the Defaulter’s Book and by Parole testimony that has been given, it appears that
… his conduct has been good
… number of times his name appears In }
the Defaulter’s Book, and that he has    }
been tried by Court Martial.                        }              Nil
… has no regimental entries or courts martial

No. 2883 Gunner George Allen being asked to what date he has been paid, answered, that his Account is balanced up to the latest period required by the Regulations; and being further asked whether he has any claim on the Regiment for Arrears of PAY, ALLOWANCES or CLOTHING, answered that he has received all just demands, from his entry into the Service up to 16th August 1866 and in confirmation, therefore affixes his signature hereto.
I acknowledge this to be true. G. Allen [signature]
Witness C.E. Buller Lt RA [signature]
Commanding the Company to which he belongs

THE Board have ascertained that No 2883 Gnr George Allen’s Soldier’s Book is correctly balanced, and signed by the Officer Commanding his Company, and they declare, that they have impartially inquired into, and faithfully reported upon, all the matters brought before them, in accordance with the Regulations and Instructions issued by Her Majesty’s Orders.
Major W,W,A. Lut[...] R.A. President
Lieut N.C. Drysdale R.A. Lieut A. Campbell R.A. Members

Detailed statement of the services of No 2883 Gunner George Allen …
Regiment            Royal Artillery 8 Bde
From                     4th August 1865                 To           16th August 1866
Rank                      Gunner
Total Service allowed to reckon to the day of final discharge        282 [days]

I have carefully examined the Proceedings of this Board in all its details, and I find them in every respect correct.                Signed HP Goodenough Colonel [signature] Commanding 8th Brigade Rl Artillery

Medical Report on the case of No 2883 Gunner George Allen who is recommended for Discharge

State name of the disability &c. Epilepsy

1stly State whether the disability existed prior to enlistment, and the grounds upon which such opinion is formed.

Most probably did exist as the disease is not likely to have originated during the short time the man has been in the Service
2ndly – Whether the invalid, if discharged, can be repassed into the service. No

And whatever may have caused the disability, &c. describe the present state thereof and the probable effect in future on the invalid’s capability of contributing towards earning a livelihood, adding how far it is considered to have been caused, or aggravated by, the use
of intoxicating liquors or indulging in other habits or vice.
The cause of this disability is not apparent but the fits have been occasionally induced by drink [...] The man is quite as fit to earn a livelihood as he was before his Enlistment
Signature [Illegible]                         Place Aldershot                 16th August 1886.
Opinion of the Inspecting Medical Officer
I hereby declare that I have carefully read the whole of the Medical Records of the case of No 2833 George Allen Regiment, \Royal Artillery/ and have made a most minute personal examination of the man himself, in which I have verified the answers of C. Mauld (Assistant Surgeon) to the above questions, and I am of the opinion that the disability of No 2833 George Allen Regiment, \Royal Artillery/ permanently incapacitates him for the active duties of a soldier, and that he cannot re-enlist if discharged.
Signature of Principal Medical Officer     R.C. Elliott            Place Aldershot]               20th August 1886.
I am of the opinion that for medical reasons above assigned, and after personal inspection, the man in question is no longer fit to perform the duties as a soldier.
Signature of the Inspecting General [Illegible]
The Discharge of the above-named man is approved by \HRH/ The Field Marshal Commanding-In-Chief
Horse Guards 11th September 1866

No. 2883 Gnr Geo Allen, referred to in the preceding pages,by Trade a Labourer was born in the Parish of Winslow near the Town of Buckingham in the County of Buckingham and attested for the Royal Regt.\ofAtty/ at Woolwich, in the County of Kent, on the 4” August 1866 at the Age of 17 8/12 years.
His final description, &c. when discharged from the Service at, Aldershot this 11” day of September 1866 Age 17 8/12 years
Height                 5 Feet 7 1/8 Inches
Complexion        Fair
Eyes                       Grey
Hair                        dark brown
Trade                    Labourer
Marks or Scars upon the face, or other parts of the body                              Nil
Intended place of residence       Winslow

G 11 h 77 for Pension nil 28 C L B

Notes: According to the 1851 Census, George was the son of Thomas Allen, shoemaker, of Buckingham Road, Winslow. He was aged 5 and born at Ewelme. In 1867 he married Mary Stevens at Winslow. He was living at Kilburn by 1870 and in 1881 he was a coal porter living in Fulham with Mary and 6 children.