tiles


Note:  Do not rely on this information. It is very old.

Good Conduct Pay

Good Conduct Pay, extra pay allowed to soldiers in the British army below the rank of noncommissioned officers. A soldier who after two years' service has committed no crime or breach of discipline sufficiently serious to be entered in the regimental defaulters' book is entitled to Id. a day. After 6 years' service he receives another Id., if his name has not been entered for two consecutive years. Twelve years' service under the same conditions entitle him to a third Id., eighteen to a fourth, and each additional 5 to another Id. There is a badge, corresponding to each of these payments, which is worn on the left sleeve. A soldier whose name is not entered during 14 years henceforward receives his good conduct pay two years before the usual time. An entry in the regimental defaulters' book involves the loss of one badge and the pay accompanying it, but these may be recovered under certain conditions. But a soldier on whom a severe sentence is passed, whether by a court martial or a civil court, thereby forfeits all his badges and good conduct pay. The good conduct pay awarded in the navy never exceeds 3d. a day, and may be held by petty officers.' Goodenough, James Graham, naval officer, born about 1830, became a lieutenant in 1851, a commander in 1858, and' a captain in 1863, and after greatly distinguishing himself in many ways in the fields both of war and peace was appointed commodore on the Australian station, with his broad pennant in the Pearl. Here he was attacked with poisoned arrows by the natives of Santa Cruz island, and, being wounded in two places, died from tetanus nine days later, on August 21st, 1875. A gold medal bearing his name is now given to the sub-lieutenant who passes the best examination of his year in January, and who Ms also taken a first class in seamanship.