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Paragraph 392, King’s Regulations

Many of the men listed on this site left the Army under King’s Regulation 392, which was followed by Roman numerals and sometimes letters. There were many reasons for a soldier to be discharged, and the Regulation 392 had a variety of catagories attached to it dependent on the reasons for leaving. This lists has been compiled from various entries found in the discharge papers of various soldiers listed here.

  • (i) References on enlistment being unsatisfactory
  • (ii) Having been irregularly enlisted
  • (iii) Not being likely to become an efficient soldier
    • (a) Recruit rejected both by medical officer and approving officer
    • (b) Recruit passed by medical officer, but rejected by a recruiting officer stationed away from the headquarters of the recruiting area, or by approving officer
    • (c) Recruit within three months of enlistment considered unfit for service
    • (cc) Recruits with more than three months service considered unfit for further military service
    • (d) Recruit who after having undergone a course of physical training is recommended by an examining board to be discharged, or in the case of a mounted corps is unable to ride
    • (e) Soldier of local battalion abroad considered unlikely to become efficient
    • (f) Boy, who, on reaching 18 years of age, is considered to be physically unfit for the ranks
  • (iv) Having been claimed as an apprentice
  • (v) Having claimed it (i.e. discharge) on payment of 10/- within three months after his attestation
  • (vi) Having made a mis-statement as to age on enlistment
    • (a) Soldier under 17 years of age at date of application for discharge
    • (b) Soldier between 17 and 18 years of age at date of application for discharge
  • (vii) Having been claimed for wife desertion
    • (a) By the parish authorities
    • (b) By the wife
  • (viii) Having made false answer on attestation
  • (ix) Unfitted for the duties of the corps
  • (x) Having been convicted by the civil power of ___ or of an offence comitted before enlistment
  • (xi) For misconduct
  • (xii) Having been sentenced to penal servitude
  • (xiii) Having been sentenced to be discharged with ignomony
  • (xiv) At his own request on payment of ___ under Article 1130 (i), Pay Warrant
  • (xv) Free, after ___ years service under Article 1130 (ii), Pay Warrant
    • (a) Free under Article 1130 (i), Pay Warrant
    • (b) Free. To take up civil employment which cannot be held open
  • (xvi) No longer physically fit for service
  • (xvii) Appears not to have been used
  • (xviii) At his own request after 18 years service (with a view to pension under the Pay Warrant)
  • (xix) For the benefit of the public service after 18 years service (with a view to pension under the Pay Warrant)
  • (xx) Inefficiency after 18 years service ( with a view to a pension under the Pay Warrant)
  • (xxi) The termination of his ___ period of engagement
  • (xxii) With less than 21 years service towards engagement, but with 21 or more years service towards pension
  • (xxiii) Having claimed discharge after three months notice
  • (xxiv) Having reached the age for discharge
  • (xxv) His service being no longer required
  • (xxvi) At his own request after 21 (or more) years service (with a view to pension under the Pay Warrant)
  • (xxvii) After 21 (or more) years qualifying service for pension, and with 5 (or more) years service as warrant officer (with a view to pension under the Pay Warrant)

Discharge document using James Walmsley of Blackpool as an example:

Last updated: 18 February, 2020

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