My great grandfather was John McCormack or John McCormick. He joined the Irish Guards (Service No. 6871) in February 1915 but was declared unfit for service in August 1915 in London. It seems he presented himself as being 25 years of age on enlisting but on later examination he was discovered to be about 45 years of age. After enlistment he went to London as a soldier but encountered closer scrutiny there and was eventually declared medically unfit for service. He was discharged on 29 December 1915. A few months later he received an armlet from the Irish Guards to be worn on civilian clothes. This indicated his willingness to fight if called upon to do so. Less than four years after returning to Wexford, he died of a liver condition mentioned on his army medical records, on 22 February 1919. His death certificate gives his age as 49 years. He left a widow, Mary Harris McCormack from Black Cow Lane, and a young son, John.

Receipt for armlet
Official document
Receipt for Irish Guards armlet to be worn on John McCormack's civilian clothes
John McCormack's short service form showing his age as 25 years and 13 days.
Short service form
Short service form, p. 2
Back
John McCormack's short service form, p.2, showing his wife's name as Mary Harris and listing his son, John, as born in 1908.
Regimental Conduct Sheet for Guardsman McCormack's AWOL in Aigust 1915
Regimental Conduct Sheet, showing John McCormack AWOL in August 1915
Medical report on John McCormack
Medical report on John McCormick, indicating his age as 45 years. Page 1.
Medical report on John McCormack, page 2
Opinion of medical board
Medical report on John McCormack: opinion of the Medical Board
Page 4 of medical report on John McCormack
Medical report John McCormack
Proceedings of Fitness to Serve Board, p. 1
Proceedings of Fitness to Serve Board, p. 2
Proceedings of Fitness to Serve Board, p. 3
Pension decision form
Pension decision form, indicating John McCormack received a small allowance for twenty weeks after his discharge from the army in December 1915
Back of Pension Decision form
Pension Decision form, reverse
Detah certificate for John McCormack
Death cert for John McCormack, 1919, indicating his age at death as 49.