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Post by Anne Marie on Oct 21, 2009 1:05:42 GMT
Recently found my father was enlisted to General Service on 24-10-1946 but discharged on 18-12-1946. He was Private, James P. Mc Mahon (from Lahinch). Reason for discharge "Not having been finally approved". Seems odd that he would have served for only 2 months. I have his certificate of service booklet with the info in it. Under testimonial something is written, but can't make out what it says. Any info would be appreciated.
Thank you Anne Marie
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Post by kellquinn on Oct 21, 2009 18:18:31 GMT
Hi Anne Marie,
It is possible that your father was found to be underage when he enlisted and was therefore not eligible to serve in the Defence Forces, this was very common throughout that era, when a person joined up they were on probation until all there facts and figures checked out, this probation usually lasted for three months. When anything was found they were then discharged as having not been finally approved. Hope this is of info.
Regards
Joey
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Post by astapf on Oct 21, 2009 23:31:57 GMT
Hi Joey,
Thank you for the info. I did think about his age when I saw when he enlisted. He would have been 19 when he enlisted. So I don't think that was the case. Family says that his mom didn't want him in the service so she got him out! Not sure how she managed that or if that was true.
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Post by Louis Parminter on Oct 22, 2009 11:03:41 GMT
Hi Anne Marie,
You may well have hit the nail on the head about his mum wanting him out as I witnessed a similar case in the 1980's of a young man who joined up in Dublin and when his mum found out that the soldiers around him were using bad language she applied to have him 'released' Needless to say he came from quite a sheltered background. 'Not finally improved' was a useful tool in letting people out who for one reason or another wanted out, or were thought unlikely to fit in with the Barrack way of life. It was also used for other reasons on occasion. But being 'not finally approved' was not a slight (generally) on the character of the person leaving. We soldiers (and ex-soldiers) are/were a strange and diverse lot at the best of times. I suppose we 'grew' on each other during our service and personally I will always be grateful for many friends made, both military and civilian, during my years spent on the Curragh.
regards
louis Parminter
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Post by afcmoore on Oct 22, 2009 11:41:09 GMT
Hi Anne Marie.
I was under age when i joined and would have got my ticket if they found out in time but was serving in the Congo when they found out.The reason that your Dad got his ticket might be because his Mum needed him at home to help out .The other reason could be medical grounds but he wouldnt be turned down because of his age.
Regards
Anthony
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Post by Louis Parminter on Oct 22, 2009 12:20:42 GMT
Anthony,
All I can say is fair play to you guys, especially those of you that were teenagers when you went to serve in the Congo, in bulls wool for that matter I do believe. The thread on being' finally approved' brought to mind another matter which I remember as being 'agricultural leave' where a soldier could be granted special leave (with pay?) to help on the family farm during the harvest or lambing season etc. The army was very supportive of family life also. This site reminds me of many things I thought I had forgotten and put me in touch with some old comrades. I even received an email from an old glasshouse comrade today, the second such contact in a week.
Fair play to Matt
regards
Louis Parminter
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Post by afcmoore on Oct 22, 2009 17:26:42 GMT
Hi Lois.
I didn't go to the Congo in bulls wool thank heavens.We were rather posh with our blue berets & cravats, Light beige uniforms green fatigues and shorts it was great.When we came home to the towns where we lived all the girls wanted to go out with the Congo boys.Don't forget we were paid out there and had a lump sum of three hundred pounds when we came home a tidy
sum in those days if you got a fiver a week in 1962 it was good money. We also got nearly a months leave and when we came back we got some more top up in our pay for a couple of months,The early batts had it rough out there to be honest we had a holiday but we didn't know that before we went and thankfully we were lucky. We also brought lots of gifts back
cravings tom toms ivory mind you all i have left is a ebony letter opener which i got for 12 cents.
Regards
Anthony.
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Post by astapf on Oct 26, 2009 0:58:15 GMT
Thank you to everyone for your input! I appreciate knowing all of this. I never knew my dad sadly. This year my daughter had health issues and the dr said it could be hereditary, so I decided to research my father. I found an Uncle in Ireland living in the home that they all grew up in and he was kind enough to pass on my fathers Army records, as well as welcome me into the family.
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