Army Act 1955 (repealed)

Extension of serviceF3 U.K.

Textual Amendments applied to the whole legislation

F3 Act: the provisions of the 1955 Acts providing for findings of courts-martial to be subject to confirmation and to revision at the direction of the confirming officer cease to have effect (1.4.1997 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) by virtue of 1996 c. 46, s. 15; S.I. 1997/304, arts. 2, 3, Sch. 2

8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1 U.K.

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 4–8 repealed with saving by S.I. 1967/1018, Sch. 3 Pt. I

9 Postponement in certain cases of discharge or transfer to the reserve. U.K.

(1) Where at the time at which apart from this section a soldier of the regular forces would be entitledto be discharged, or would fall to be transferred to the reserve, a state of war exists between Her Majestyand any foreign power, or men of the reserve are called out on permanent service, or he is serving outsidethe United Kingdom, he may be retained in army service for such period as is hereinafter mentioned, and hisservice may be prolonged accordingly.

(2) No person shall be retained in army service by virtue of this section later than the expiration oftwelve months after the date on which apart from this section he would be entitled to be discharged.

(3) Subject to the provisions of the last foregoing subsection, a person who apart from this section wouldbe entitled to be discharged may be retained in army service for such period as the competent militaryauthority may order.

(4) Subject as aforesaid, a person who apart from this section would fall to be transferred to the reservemay be retained in army service for such period, ending not later than twelve months after the date on whichapart from this section he would fall to be transferred to the reserve, as the competent military authoritymay order or for any period or further period during which men of the reserve continue called out onpermanent service.

(5) If while a soldier is being retained in army service by virtue of this section it appears to thecompetent military authority that his services can be dispensed with, he shall be entitled to be dischargedor transferred to the reserve as the case may require.

(6) Where, at the time at which under the foregoing provisions of this section a soldier is entitled to bedischarged or transferred to the reserve, a state of war exists between Her Majesty and any foreign power,he may, by declaration made in the prescribed form before his commanding officer, agree to continue in armyservice while such a state of war exists; and if the competent military authority approve he may continueaccordingly as if the period for which his term of service could be prolonged under the foregoing provisionsof this section were a period continuing so long as a state of war exists:

Provided that if it is so specified in the declaration he shall be entitled to be discharged ortransferred to the reserve, as the case may require, at the expiration of three months’ notice given by himto his commanding officer.

(7) In relation to soldiers serving outside the United Kingdom, references in this section to being entitledto be transferred to the reserve shall be construed as references to being entitled to be sent to the UnitedKingdom with all convenient speed for the purpose of being transferred to the reserve.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 9 extended by Reserve Forces Act 1980 (c. 9), s. 19(3); modified Reserve Foces Act 1980 (c. 9), s. 83(1)(a)(3)

C2 S. 9 modified (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/3086, reg. 11, Sch. para. 1

[F2 10 (1) If it appears to Her Majesty that national danger is imminent or that a great emergency has arisen, Shemay by order, signified under the hand of the Secretary of State, provide that soldiers who would otherwisefall to be transferred to the reserve shall continue in army service; and thereupon the last foregoingsection shall apply to such soldiers as it applies while men of the reserve are called out on permanentservice.

(2) Where an order has been made under subsection (1) above, the occasion thereof shall forthwith becommunicated to Parliament.

(3) An order in force under subsection (1) above may be revoked by order of Her Majesty signified as thereinmentioned]

Textual Amendments

F2 S. 10 substituted by Armed Forces Act 1966 (c. 45), s. 12(1)