AKICODW/LJ - word search

[nineveh_uk]

I feel sure that there must be a word - probably specific slang - for this, but I can't think what it could be.

I want to describe someone leaving the British army - voluntarily - at the end of a long career. This is taking place in the 1920s. Essentially he's retiring, but while I can use retiring I feel there should be something more precise.

ETA: Solved!

Comments

[oursin]

?'Bowler-hatted'?

[nineveh_uk]

That comes completely new to me. Not for this context, but I shall definitely save it for later.

[grondfic]

Cashiered? Sent to civvy street?

[nineveh_uk]

Alas, I thought of cashiers, but it involves some disgrace. It is all very complicated - my other problem is that it is Sayer/Harry Potter crossover, so quite a lot of reasonable options for things don't quite work.

[antisoppist]

I can only think of cashiered but I think that's only when you've done something awful. Can you search Google Books for something out of print and relevant?

[nineveh_uk]

I tried Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club, but also Robert is still in the army!

[legionseagle]

He sends in his papers (and tells Wimsey about it) whern they're handling his brother's nervous collapse. His colonel knows of the attempt at fraud, so puts pressure on him to resign.

[ruric]

Demobbed? It's the only one I;ve heard that might apply?

[nineveh_uk]

Demobbed might well work, thanks.

[perennialanna]

To be demobbed one must first be mobilised, so it doesn't work for the inter-war period (also, it has implications of involuntarily about it, though not of disgrace).

[nineveh_uk]

It always makes me think of Blackadder's Prince Regent, even though the quote from that is "debagged and radished." But happily "sent in his papers" seems to work just as I need - and is even in Sayers.

[legionseagle]

"Sent in my papers" is used in The Four Feathers (set 1882 but written in 1902) but Sayers uses it also in The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club which is set in the 20s some time

[nineveh_uk]

Absolutely perfect!

[lopezuna-writes.livejournal.com]

I see you already have the answer. Further support: as reported by the Dowager Duchess, Lord Peter sends in his papers at the beginning of Busman’s Honeymoon once his plumbing in Rome is done.

[nineveh_uk]

Oh excellent, thank you! That's clearly the phrase to go with.