Indian Expeditionary Force 'D', General Routine Orders (incomplete) [‎106r] (224/774)

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GENERAL ROUTINE ORDERS
BY
Lieut.-General F. S. MAUDE, C.B., C.M.G. : D.S.O
Commanding I.E.F. " D."
Aloud ay, October 2nd, igi6
BOUNTIES
DISCIPLINE
TELEGRAPHIC
ADDRESS
Adjutant General’s Branch.
1590. Reference Army Order No 209, of July, 1916. Until Army Forms W. 3458
are received, Officers Commanding Units should submit to the Office of the A.A.G., 3rd
Echelon, General Headquarters, I E F. “ D,” a Nominal Roll of all men claiming
bounties under the above Army Order.
On receipt of Army Forms W. 3458 these should be filled in and forwarded to the
A.A G., 3rd Echelon, General Headquarters, for transmission to the Authorities
concerned.
. 1591 (a) Where a soldier is charged with an offence for which the punishment
ct , e is not to be permitted to plead guilty, but a plea of not guilty is to be recorded
and the circumstances are to he explained to him. guilty is to be recorded,
. (6) The attention of presidents and members of Courts Martial is called to the
fact they have under Section 44 (6) Army Act, power to award forfeiture of pay up to
hree months either in addition to or without any other punishment for offences
committed on active service. In view of the difficulty which often exists in carrying
out punishments in the field, this is a form of sentence which is particularly suitable
to present conditions.
(c) Instances have occurred recently where, in the case of soldiers charged with
the loss of arms, clothing or equipment, the value of the articles has not been stated
in the charge sheet. This should invariably be done, so that the Court in passing
sentence may have before them the particulars necessary to enable them to place the
accused under stoppages of pay to make good the loss. Where a soldier loses his rifle,
the case is invariably to be dealt with by Court Martial.
{d} It is noticeable that in a monthly return of Courts Martial recently rendered,
the convictions in four units numbered 40 and the acquittals 14. The large proportion
in the latter category would seem to betoken either that sufficient care is not always
taken in carrying out the preliminary investigation or that the functions of the
Prosecutor have been inadequately performed.
(e) In all cases where sentence of death on a soldier is passed by a Court Martial,
the proceedings ate to be referred to G H Q for confirmation, commutation or remission,
by the Army Commander. Recommendations as to whether the sentence should be
carried out are to be made by the various officers through whose hands the proceedings
pass after leaving the Court, and the reasons for such recommendations based on the
individual’s previous record are to be stated.
(f) With reference to Force Routine Order No. 1521, the Army Commander
wishes it to be clearly understood by all concerned that where an offence punishable
by death has been committed, and where the evidence adduced justifies conviction,
and the Court has consequently convicted and sentenced the accused to death, he will
consider it his duty in the interests of the Army and of discipline to uphold the decision
of the Court. Unless mitigating circumstances are proved, he will order the sentence
to be carried out He directs, however, that before these instructions take effect, the
matter should be carefully explained to all ranks, so that there may be no room for
misunderstanding on the subject, and subordinate commanders are responsible that
this is done without delay on receipt of this order.
(g) A copy of sub-paras, {a), d) and (c) above is to be laid before all Courts
Martial.
1592. It is notified for information that the telegraphic address of the President
of the Standing Committee of Adjustment, 3rd Echelon, General Headquarters, I.E.F.
“D,” is “ Aconite.” Telegrams should be addressed accordingly.
F. F. READY, Brigadier-General,
Deputy Adjutant General.
Quartermaster General’s Branch.
NIL.
H. 0. KNOX, Brigadier-General,
Deputy Quartermaster General.
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