Discipline in WW2

[Jon Skagfeld]

For openers...Generally speaking a Commanding Officer or his delegated Officer could, by Summary Trial (meaning what he says goes...no appeal!), sentence a man to a maximum of 28 days detention with or without penal servitude.

Scenario: Sergeant Major orders "March the guilty bastard in!"

After due presentation of heavily weighted "evidence", and subsequent quick sentencing, Private Bloggins, the guilty bastard, is marched out, hatless, beltless, at the double, and consigned to either the Regimental Police for a minor offence, or to the Provost Marshall for more serious crimes...if so, thence to the
glasshouse" for "
jankers".

Harsh?...sure... and these same rules applied to the Canadian Forces until very recently, including the death penalty for certain offences.