Soldier’s Return

This painting was almost certainly intended as a continuation of O’Neil’s famous pair of narrative paintings, showing troops leaving for and returning from the Indian Mutiny (1857-59), ‘’Eastward Ho!’ August 1857’ and ‘Home Again’.

In ‘Home Again’, this highland sergeant is seen distressed by a ‘Dear John’ letter. He appears here, presumably discharged from military service due to disability, having become a vagrant, reliant upon charity. Wearing an assortment of regimental clothing, including a glengarry, or forage cap, of the 93rd (Highlanders), he appears without means even to buy civilian clothes.

During the 19th century, the treatment of ex-servicemen brought the Army much adverse publicity. Most veterans were unskilled and, although fit men could still find labouring work, invalids were not likely to be employed. This almost certainly meant the workhouse.

As late as the 1890s, one-third of those discharged on medical grounds received no pension. Small invalidity pensions were only granted if there was proof that sickness or injury was a direct result of military service or, in some cases, to those who had served a minimum of 14 years.

From 1847 until the introduction of short-service enlistment in 1870, infantry soldiers enlisted for a maximum period of 21 years, although they could be released beforehand if unfit, for misconduct, or if purchasing a discharge. Ex-soldiers released for medical reasons with good character, in receipt of permanent pensions and with no dependants, qualified for institutional care in the two military hospitals at Chelsea and Kilmainham. However, together they only admitted about 200 pensioners annually.