Demobbed?

[stumped!]

What does demobbed mean.?Is it basically the end of a military career .If so i may be starting my search for my elusive grandad all over!

[Mary Anne]

stumped!

Welocme to the forum and to the wonderful world of military jargon!

"Demobbed" means "demobilized". This generally follows a period of "mobilization" (i.e. a war) and it means they get medical checks, and all the other checks the military does before they let you out of their hands, and then released from military duties as they were. That may mean discharged from the military altogether (especially if the person was a "casual" volunteer enlistee) or it may mean sent back to 'regular service', if the person was a member of the regular force.

Are we talking WWI or WWII?


Mary Anne

[gasser]

Basically ... it means released from military career.

[stumped!]

Thanks mary anne. All is not lost then .My limited info says were and when [1939] he was demobbed, but his obituary my gran wrote says 1945 to retirement [1961]he was a stoker at RAF Kirton lyndsey. PHEW!

[Mary Anne]

stumped

if you can prove you are a direct relative, you should be able to get a copy of his military records from the TNA. They will only be released to the person himself, or to NOK, if he is deceased.

Mary Anne

[wayfarer]

UK - RAF: - Demob was a term that airmen who were conscripted post WWII learned and cherised until the day they actually were demobbed!
'Discharged' was usually followed by a period on 'Reserve', meaning you could be called back up at short notice should any hositilies arise and be back in service. In the case of conscripted men, this reserve was unpaid. The Official Secrets Act was to be adhered to indefinitely, signed on start of service and also at point of 'demob'. (I just threw that bit in)

[Retlaw]

What does demobbed mean.?Is it basically the end of a military career .If so i may be starting my search for my elusive grandad all over!

Demobilised is the opposite of mobilised, on a mans attestation papers it will show date he was attested, date placed on reserve, date mobilised. When he reached the end of his service, he could be place on class Z army reserve, demobilised, or disembodied, which meant the never wanted to see him again.
You can also have men who enlisted before war broke out and signed on for a fixed term of service, when that term expired the man had to be released, no matter where he was in the world, most immediately signed on again for the duration.

Retlaw.