William SCANLON Discharge Records

What's Here

Almost-verbatim copy of William SCANLON's discharge papers from H.M. 75th Foot.

On this page are:

Proceedings of Regimental Board
Detailed Statement of Services
Medical Report
Description When Discharged

Surnames Appearing in the Documents

SCANLON

Notes

Research at the Public Record Office was done by Bob O'Hara.

I've made this transcription as exact as possible, the usual caveats applying. Italics indicate the hand-written parts of the printed forms. There are several handwritten interpolations in the printed wording of the forms; these are between angle brackets. My editorial comments are in square brackets.

There is an account on the web of the 1857 Siege of Delhi, specifically referring to the 75th Regiment: the autobiography of Field Marshal Lord Roberts of Kandahar, V.C., K.P., G.C.B., G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E., Forty-One Years in India, London, 1897, Chapters XIII-XIX.

William's forfeiture of good conduct pay in June 1858 corresponds pretty well to the end of the Mutiny. Encyclopedia Britannica (15th Edition): "With the British recovery of Gwalior (June 20) the revolt was virtually over.... On August 2, 1858, less than a month after Charles Canning, first viceroy of India, proclaimed the victory of British arms.... " Presumably the army was aware they were winning, and excessive celebration was possible.

History of this Document

06 June 2000, revision 1.: Initial publication.
25 September 2001, revision 2.: Notes added.
20 May 2002, revision 3.: Debug HTML.
25 February 2007, revision 4.: Routine maintenance.

Proceedings of Regimental Board

[?]000 5-66	9-4-67 W.O. Form 83.
HER MAJESTY'S 75th REG. OF Foot Whereof Lieut General St J A Clerke KH is Colonel. [Place and Date] Waterford 2nd March 186 7 .
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. 2281, Private William Scanlon of the Regiment above-mentioned.
President.
Capt. R. Wadeson V.C. 75th Regt
Members.
Capt. D. Hammill 75th	Lieut C A Heycock 75th
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 20 years, 43 days, as shown by the detailed Statement on the 2nd page; during which period he served abroad 11 321/365 years, viz.: at years, in East Indies 11 321/365 years; " years; and further, that his DISCHARGE is proposed in consequence of
[Here state whether - Completion of period, at his own request, or as unfit for further Service]	his being unfit for further Service
With regard to the CHARACTER and CONDUCT of No 2281 Private William Scanlon , the Board have to report that upon reference to the Defaulter's Book, and by the Parole testimony that has been given, it appears that
[Insert opposite - the man's Character, the number of Good Conduct Badges in his possession, and all Badges of Merit, or gallant conduct in the Field, conferred upon him.]	his character and conduct have been Very Good. He is in possession of Four Good Conduct Badges the Good Conduct Medal with Gratuity and the Indian Mutiny Medal with clasps for Delhi and Relief of Lucknow
[Insert the number of times his Name appears in the Defaulter's Book, and that he has been tried by Court Martial. The charge, finding, and sentence, on each occasion, is to be recorded on a separate sheet, which is to accompany the Discharge Documents. If never tried or entered in the Defaulter's Book, state so.]	There is One Entry against him in the Defaulter Book. Has never been tried by Court Martial
[If this man received Wounds, &c., in action, or other Injuries in or by the Service, although not invalided on account thereof, state here the nature of the wound, or injuries, and when and where he received the same, and if any Court of Enquiry was held, (as is required) state or annex the result.]
No. 2281 Private William Scanlon <RW at Cork is not> 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 the 2nd March 1867 and in confirmation thereof, affixes his signature hereto. I acknowledge this to be true. /s/ Wm. Scanlon Witness /s/ N E Byron Captain Commanding the Company to which he belongs. The Board have <RW not> ascertained that No. 2281 Private William Scanlon 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. <This man is at Cork> /s/ R. Wadeson Captain President. /s/ D Hammill Capt 75th Reg Members. /s/ C A Heycock Lt 75th Regt

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Statement of Services

Detailed Statement of the Services of No. 2281, Private William Scanlon
Regiment	Promotions, Reductions, &c.	Rank	Period of Service in each Rank From - To	Amount of Service towards G.C. Pay and Pension Years - Days	Amount of Service towards completion of limited engagement
75th		Private	19 Oct 46 - 18 Jany 48	Underage	Unlimited Service
		"	19 Jany 48 - 2 Mch 67	19 - 43
	GCPay at 1d 19 January 1853
	GCPay at 2d 19 January 1858
	Forfeited 1d GCPay 1 June 1858
	Restored 2d GCPay 1 June 1859
	GCPay at 3d 1 June 1861
	Granted One years Additional Service for Alumbagh HGds GO 810 d/ 2/6/62			1 -
	GCPay at 4d 19 January 1865
Total of the foregoing Statement.. .. .. ..				20 - 43
* Further Service from the 3 March to the 9 April when finally discharged				- 38
Total Service allowed to reckon to the day of final discharge.. ..				20 - 81
* To be erased, when not required, by drawing the Pen through the Lines.
I have carefully examined the Proceedings of this Board in all its details, and I find them in every respect correct. /s/ M L[?] Mansell[?] LtColonelmajor[?] Commanding 75 Regt. of Foot

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Medical Report

Medical Report on the case of 2281 Private William Scanlon 75th Regt who is recommended for discharge.
QUESTIONS.	ANSWERS.
The Examining Surgeon is required to furnish answers to these questions, or explain why he is unable to do so.
1. State the name of the disability, &c.	Dysecaa et Ophthalmia
2. 1stly.-State whether the disability existed prior to enlistment, and the grounds upon which such opinion is formed.	No
2ndly.-Whether the invalid, if discharged, can be repassed into the service.	No
3. In Ophthalmic, or other disorders of the eyes, state how the disease was contracted, and whether the same was or was not prevalent at the time in the Regiment, or at the Station.	Contracted by tropical service (East Indian)
4. If the disability is the result of wounds, or other injuries, received in action, or in the discharge of some act of military duty, describe distinctly the wound, &c., and by what weapon, &c., inflicted.	No
5. If the injury occurred in, but not by, the service, state how it occurred.	In and by the service
6. 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 indulgence in other habits or vices.	Dysecaa caused by sun stroke during Indian campaign (1857) rendering this worthy old soldier quite incapable of contributing toward earning his livelihood. It has not in any way been aggravated by vice or misconduct.
Signature /s/ H[C?]arter Murphy Asst Surg. 75th Place Waterford Date 23 Feb 1867
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. 2281 Pte. Willm. Scanlan 75 Regiment, and have made a most minute personal examination of the man himself, in which I have verified the answers of Asst Surg Murphy (Surgeon or Assistant Surgeon, as the case may be) to the above questions, and I am of the opinion that the disability of No. 2281 Pte. Willm. Scanlan 75 Regiment, permanently incapacitates him for the active duties of a soldier, and that he cannot re-enlist if discharged. Signature of Principal Medical Officer /s/ J W Chambers MD Place Cork Date 13 March 1867 [B?]y Insp. General
I am of opinion that for the medical reasons above assigned, and after personal inspection, the man in question is no longer fit to perform the duties of a soldier. Signature of the Inspecting General /s/ H Waters MGenl The Discharge of the above-named man is approved by The ~~Field Marshal~~ <General> Commanding~~-in-Chief~~ ~~Horse Guards~~ <Adjutant General's Office Dublin> 9 April 18 67 /s/ Graham Hay D[uu?]G

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Description When Discharged

No. 2281 Private Wm. Scanlon
referred to in the preceding pages, by
Trade a Labourer
was born in the Parish of Devonport
near the Town of Devonport
in the County of Devon
and attested for the 75th Regt.
at Athlone
in the County of
on the 19 October 1846
at the Age of 16 9/12 years

His final description, &c., when discharged from the Service, at Cork

this 9 day of April 18 67
Age 39 7 years & ~~three~~two (2) months
Height 5 Feet 6 Inches
Complexion Fresh
Eyes Blue
Hair Dark brown
Trade Laborer [sic]
Marks or Scars upon the face, or other parts
of the body

Intended Place of Residence ~~Not known~~
1 Armond Street
JC[?] En[?] Wood
Cheshire

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