PUNISHMENT BOOKS: THEIR VALUE FOR THE MUSEUM
28th October 2010

Sara Gois holding a Punishment Book

Punishment Books: Their Value For The Museum

Sara Gois has been working in the museum in a work placement. I'm studying History at university. Among my duties were to help with the database about the Punishment Books. These concerned the offenses and punishment of soldiers but also provided other type of information such as their character, place of origin and age.

The Punishment Books of the Yorkshire Regiment date from two periods, from 31.5.1878-23.9.1889 and from 7.10.1889-28.8.1904. They provide vital information concerning the soldiers who committed offenses and the punishment they received. This information is vital for the museum records and for people looking for information concerning relatives and friends.

Most of the offenders were privates but also mentioned were Corporals, Colour Sergeants and Sergeants. And their age range is between 17-44.

The offenses committed were varied: from losing their clothing and regimental necessities, absence without leave, drunkenness, disobeying an order given by a superior officer, fraudulent enlistment, domestic disturbances, offering violence towards a superior officer, desertion, embezzlement. The punishments were also varied The most common form of punishment was imprisonment with hard labour that could be from a few days to 2 years,  then fines, put under stoppages to pay for lost articles, reduced to a lower rank and to be discharged  from the army with ignominy.

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