Hi Michael After the Napoleonic campaign there was a huge excess of Military personnel so many were laid off, demobbed, released (whatever you want to term it) As were many of the Officers , those that were kept on but there was not a position for but they were deemed to be worthwhile keeping on the list were put on half pay, a retainer of sorts In a similar way the Royal Navy put some Officers on HP whilst at home and there was not a position available It did not apply to the ordinary soldier or sailor OED defines it as :- 1. Half the usual or full wages or salary; a reduced allowance to an officer in the army or navy when not in actual service, or after retirement at a prescribed time. Generally you can usually draw a conclusion based on the age, in this case he is 71 so clearly to old for active service As far as Pensioner is concerned it could apply to someone who was injured whilst in service or had reached his length of service Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) > Can I double check this please? I believed that a serviceman on Half Pay > was and active and available Serviceman for whom there was no opening. > For > example after the Napoleonic War had finished, the size of our forces was > dramatically reduced and those who might be needed in the event of another > crisis were put on Half Pay. > A pensioner means to me an individual who has completed their working > period > Michael