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Meaning of a Check mark in an Army File

ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

FredB

FredB Report 18 Dec 2012 14:28

My great grandfather served in the British Army from 1855-74.

In his file there is a one page summary;

On that page there is a check mark beside each of the headings; “Service Abroad”,” Wounded” and “Distinguished Himself”.

Does anyone know if the check mark means "yes" to those headings or if it means the equivalent of N/A?

The file is in terrible shape and very little besides the summary is legible.

Porkie_Pie

Porkie_Pie Report 18 Dec 2012 16:05

I would assume the check mark is their to verify the info on that document is correct

Roy

AnninGlos

AnninGlos Report 18 Dec 2012 17:28

Probably written by his immediate superior and then checked by a higher officer.

FredB

FredB Report 18 Dec 2012 17:45

The headings are pre-printed on the form along with other categories such as Married, Died, and a number of headings under a section titled "description extracted from his attestation". For the most part there is a written entry beside each pre-printed category so I wondered if the check mark was the equivalent of "no comment".

The file is in such bad shape I cannot tell if he may have been sent abroad or wounded.

The file is on Ancestry and I can send a jpeg by PM if anyone is interested.

Porkie_Pie

Porkie_Pie Report 18 Dec 2012 19:37

Fred, Can i just say as per my other post, I would think that any check mark on an official military document would be to confirm/ verify the content as correct, (No Comment) would not be an option open to any official military document

If the info on the document was not required/applicable then N/A could be used but normaly the form would still be in the soldiers record but simply left blank or a line through it


Roy

FredB

FredB Report 18 Dec 2012 19:46

Thanks - if I could only decipher the file!

Porkie_Pie

Porkie_Pie Report 18 Dec 2012 20:13

Wish i could help you with that Fred but my eyes are not very good,

Try changing/Editing your thread title to include "Help required reading army records" then Edit your OP to include "The file is on Ancestry and I can send a jpeg by PM to anyone who may be able to help decipher the file"

Roy