Discharge 1919

91 Years ago today my father was in an army convalescent home recovering from a leg wound he got in fighting in France.
He was due to return to his regiment [ 9th Battalion Scottish Rifles], in France a few days later and since the war was over he went home to visit his parents and returned to his regiment two days late. For this terrible crime he was given 3 days field punishment !!

When he was discharged late in 1919 and returned to work he had to work for two years at a reduced pay because he had broken his apprenticeship by joining the army as a volunteer.

So much for returned heroes, He was rather cynical about the memorial ceremonies and parades. As far as the German soldiers were concerned he regarded them as brave and only doing as they were told the same as him. Indeed it was a German prisoner who helped him back to the regimental aid post.

This scrap of paper is his army discharge. My son has his medals.