Army Discharge Document

[Peter Goodey]

http://www.goodey.me.uk/misc/adams.jpg

Would anyone like to have a go at deciphering the last couple of lines after "Discharged having been convicted by the Civil Power of felony..."?

Is there anything that might help in tracking down details of this felony?

Sorry about the quality of the image - my camera isn't really up to it.

[Procat]

Hi Peter,

Possibly:

authy. CSO S.B.
Portsmouth ??

Sorry, best I can do.

[peter nicholl]

Hi Peter

I believe the last bit is

"Portsmouth of 2 1/05" (sorry can't do fractions) but that would tie in with the date in the second column to the right.

Peter

[AnnB]

Hello Peter

I would agree with Doug, but I think Authy. has a capital A. Could it be short for Authority, there does seem to be a full stop after it.

Best wishes
Ann

[joette]

Civil Authority, felony assualt but that sounds really American-maybe I have been watching too much Law& Order!

[busyglen]

I think it says....Discharged having been convicted by the Civil Power of Felony Authority CSO ? Portsmouth 2/1/05 (same date as that at start of comment).

Glenys

[Peter Goodey]

Thanks everybody.

I suppose if those two lines are just about the authorisation to discharge, Portsmouth could just be the place where the decision was made and not a clue about where to search for details of the felony.

[peter nicholl]

A further thought; as it was a Civil Authority case it may not be a military reference, but perhaps an abbreviation of County Sessions and the Case refrence. It may be worth trying the Portsmouth Records Office, for even if they don't have Court Records, they may have a record in the local newspaper, you do have a specific date.

Good Luck
Peter

[busyglen]

Peter (not that it makes any difference to the end result) the letters after what looks like CSO, looks like the initials of the Paymaster, if you compare them to his signature.

Glenys

[Peter Goodey]

That's an interesting thought, Glenys

BTW As he was now in the reserves (see the top part of the sheet), there may be no reason for him to have been anywhere near the army!

[Mutley]

I tried googling for ages but nothing really hit me in the face that was relevant and I doubt that I did anything you have not already tried. Like Glenys I tried to read the station master's name: Humphrey - Murphy and thought maybe he was the CSO at WIN.........?

Do you know where he was posted and what happened to Sidney after this event. Do you know his birth date and if he went on to live a life with a family?

Interested Mutley

[Peter Goodey]

Do you know where he was posted and what happened to Sidney after this event. Do you know his birth date and if he went on to live a life with a family?
WIN = Winchester

He married in 1910, had a couple of children, fought in the Great War, worked for the Ministry of Labour, had a couple more children. All very conventional.

[Karen Newman]

Portsmouth Record Office have local newspapers on film which cover the period.

http://www.portsmouthrecordsoffice.co.uk/

There is a word doc on the main page of the site which is a basic index of the types of record.

Of the newspapers mentioned, the Evening News exists today as a local daily paper. Not sure if it was back then.

Of course, Portsmouth is well known as a naval base and there is/was also a Marine presence (there is a Marine Museum), but not sure about the army.

It may also be worth contacting Hampshire Record Office in Winchester. Note from thier website that they are planning a big move by the end of the year which may affect services.

http://www.hants.gov.uk/record-office/

[Geoffers]

"Disharged Having been convicted by the Civil Power of Felony. Auth(orit)y CSO (Company Standing Orders?) SB (initials of person making entry?) Portsmouth of 2 1/05 (2 Jan 1905)"

I don't know if Depot Description Books (WO67) at TNA might contain some detail, or if the regimental museum may still hold documents relating to day-day events - presumably your chap wold have been nicked, convicted and either sent down and dismissed the army, or handed back to the army and been dismissed. I would think the detail would have been recorded at the time.

Only other place to try would be a local newspaper - but then which one? Was he convicted locally or on leave?

Geoffers

[Peter Goodey]

Thanks Geoffers. Unfortunately the National Archives don't have much Army stuff at all covering 1905.

The museum at Winchester is certainly worth trying. I wish I could get a bead on where he committed the offence. As he appears to have been in the reserves, he might as well have been in London going about his normal business (plus his felonious business, of course :) ).

On the other hand, did they not have to suffer some compusory training days back with the regiment?

[peter nicholl]

Of course, Portsmouth is well known as a naval base and there is/was also a Marine presence (there is a Marine Museum), but not sure about the army.
There was a big army presence, eg Milldam Barracks. Partly I believe to service the line of forts Gosport side. One of my Vaughans was posted to Portsmouth with 2nd Batt Connaught Rangers in 1887.

[Mutley]

As he appears to have been in the reserves, he might as well have been in London going about his normal business (plus his felonious business, of course :) ).


Most of my felonious London lot have got a mention in The Times but nothing for Sidney Adams.