Lives of the First World War

1. Attested 14 December 1914 in 16th Cheshire/2nd Birkenhead Bantam Battalion (all men in Bantam Battalions were under the normal regulation height of 5'3"). Discharged 10 February 1915 on medical grounds due to "old injury, (bone) ankle" Causes of Discharge shown as Paragraph 392 of King's Regulations 1912 para iii. c. "considered unfit for service" 2. Attested a second time 12 June 1915. Promoted A/Corporal 8 July 1915 probably based on declared prior service in 16th Cheshire Regiment shown on Attestation Papers. 3. Reduced from A/Corporal to Private for being drunk n duty by District Court Martial 6 October 1915. 4. Second Discharge 17 December 1915 as "permanently unfit for any service at home or abroad" and reference contents of "W.O. Letter 20/Inf/738 (A.G.I.) of 30.7.15 para 3.a" …….this missing letter likely refers to Medical Rejection. (A Guide to WW1 Causes of Discharge - Paragraph 392 of King's Regulations 1912 Para 3.a. which is supported by and explains the required retrospective entry on his Attestation Papers as "NOT FINALLY APPROVED BY RECRUITING OFFICER" 5. 22 January 1916 attested for third time. 6. 24 July 1916 - 17 September 1917 in France. 7. Third Discharge 31 July 1918 as "permanently unfit for further War Service, Home Service or Light Duties at Home" Diagnosis given was "Dementia Praecox". This is a disused psychiatric diagnosis manifested by chronic, deteriorating psychotic disorder characterized by rapid cognitive disintegration, usually beginning in late teens or early adulthood. Today this is called "schizophrenia"

Created by: , Ian105013