TOPIC:

The phrase appears on the attestation papers of one the first contingent of the Pembrokeshire Imperial Yeomanry.



Just wondering if anybody has come across the phrase before and understands what it means?

The man involved was born in 1859 and knocked 9 years off his age when he attested to meet the 35 upper age limit for the IY. He can be found on the 1861, 1871, 1881 & 1891 censuses unfortunately, owing to the enumerators' hand writing, I cannot tell you what his occupation was in 1881 & 1891 when he was of working age. When he attested he gave his occupation as "Commercial Clerk".

His 4 four years with the 14th Hussars would just about fit in before the 1881 Census but more probably either between the 1881 & 1891 Cenuses or between the 1891 Census and attesting in 1900. After helping suppress the Indian Mutiny the 14th Hussars allegedly spent the second half of the 19C garrisoning various parts of the British Empire. However four of my Smethwickians served in the 14th Hussars during the ABW - two enlisted in 1892 and two in 1898 - all four spent all their time on home service until the ABW. Just wondering if anybody actually knows what the 14th Hussars did from 1875 to 1891?

There never has been an "Employment Act" in UK history. During the second half of the 19C various acts were passed regarding coal miners and shop workers but no general act regarding employment.

Despite his advanced years the man involved went on to be awarded the DCM.

David

Reference your question :- Just wondering if anybody actually knows what the 14th Hussars did from 1875 to 1891?

The 14th Hussars left Ireland in 1862 and moved around Britain, from Lancashire, to Aldershot, then Hounslow and finally Edinburgh before returning to Ireland in 1868. After six years, in 1874 they went to Aldershot and then Colchester. In 1876 they were posted to Poona, and later Bangalore, in India. They prepared for active service in Afghanistan but were sent instead to South Africa at the end of February 1881. The disaster at Majuba had occurred but the British government responded by granting independence to the Boers in the Transvaal. The regiment had little to do and saw no fighting. At the end of 1881 they returned to India, disembarking at Bombay, and marched to Secunderabad, a journey that took six weeks. They spent four years in this posting, enjoying a good climate and indulging in sports like panther hunting, polo and steeplechasing or hurdling. But the time in India was also used for constant training and inspections to keep horses and men in good condition.


The 14th sailed home to England with a strength of 17 officers and 405 rank and file. Also there were 3 officers' wives, 24 soldiers' wives and 58 children. They were stationed at Shorncliffe, Aldershot, Hounslow and Brighton. While at Brighton they performed three Military Tournaments for the public, and organised a Full-Dress Ball at the Pavillion attended by 400 guests. On at least two occasions they had contact with Kaiser Wilhelm II, in 1889 and 1891, escorting him from Crystal Palace to Buckingham Palace, and staging a sham fight at Aldershot for his amusement. He was interested to see the badge of the 14th, being the Prussian eagle. The commander of the escort Captain Richardson was presented with a signed, framed photo of the Kaiser but on the outbreak of war in 1914 he smashed it to the floor and stamped on it. In 1891 they moved to the north of England and were called out in aid of the civil power but the rioters dispersed as soon as the cavalry arrived. At Manchester a squadron in full dress turned out to quell a riot in Chester but were not needed. On their return they came across a hunt meet and the officer, Major Gage asked the master of the hunt permission for the squadron to join in, which was granted. In 1894 the 14th escorted Queen Victoria at the opening of the Manchester Ship Canal and soon after embarked for Ireland. They stayed there for 5 years posted to Cahir, Dublin and Newbridge.

Dave.

Smethwick,

I also had a look for legislation from the period but no suitable Act jumped out. I have not seen this annotation before so will continue to investigate.

Best wishes
David

I have found this article on Jstor but at 116 pages, it will take some reading.

The Judges versus the Unions: The Development of British Labor Law, 1867-1913
Michael J. Klarman
Virginia Law Review, Vol. 75, No. 8 (Nov., 1989), pp. 1487-1602 (116 pages)

Dave - thanks for the info re 14th Hussars which has now been added to 1 Pembrokeite & 4 Smethwickian folders. Annoyingly no locations are given on the "Statement of Services" sheets for the two Smethwickians who enlisted in 1892. The one passed a Veterinary Class in Aldershot "with credit" and the date alongside it is 29/11/1897 but I presume he would have been sent away to do the course. The two who enlisted in 1898 were initially posted to Newbridge - one on 04/09/1898 and the other on 08/11/1898.

David - thanks - 116 pages which mainly seems to be about the relationship between trade unions & employers - not sure whether I can search the article but if I can will look for "army" & "soldier" and leave it at that.

David
Perhaps reference to “Employment Act” is a red herring.
My understanding of the attestation form is that it was filled in by a clerk with the information as supplied by the recruit, it being unlikely that the clerk had the resources to check the detail of what the recruit told him.
I can imagine a scenario when they got to question 11 of a rigmarole of a convoluted answer as to how and why the putative recruit left the 14th Hussars after 4 years, summarized by the clerk, to tick the box, as “Discharged under Employment Act”.
Peter