(1)In this Act the expression “on active service”, in relation to a force, means that itis engaged in operations against an enemy or [F1is engaged elsewhere than in the United Kingdom in operations for the protection oflife or property] or (subject to the provisions of this section) is in military occupation of a foreign country, andin relation to a person means that he is serving in or with a force which is on active service.
(2)Where any of Her Majesty’s military forces is serving outside the United Kingdom, and it appears to theappropriate authority that, by reason of the imminence of active service or of the recent existence ofactive service, it is necessary for the public service that the force should be deemed to be on activeservice, the appropriate authority may declare that for such period, not exceeding three months, beginningwith the coming into force of the declaration as may be specified therein that force shall be deemed to beon active service.
(3)Where it appears to the appropriate authority that it is necessary for the public service that theperiod specified in a declaration under the last foregoing subsection should be prolonged or, if previouslyprolonged under this subsection, should be further prolonged, the appropriate authority may declare thatthe said period shall be prolonged by such time, not exceeding three months, as may be specified in thedeclaration under this subsection.
(4)If at any time while any force—
(a)is on active service by reason only of being in military occupation of a foreign country; or
(b)is deemed to be on active service by virtue of the foregoing provisions of this section,
it appears to the appropriate authority that there is no necessity for the force to continue to betreated as being on active service, the appropriate authority may declare that as from the coming intooperation of the declaration the force shall cease to be, or to be deemed to be, on active service.
(5)Before any declaration is made under this section, the appropriate authority shall, unless satisfiedthat it is not possible to communicate with sufficient speed with the Secretary of State, obtain the consentof the Secretary of State to the declaration; and in any case where that consent has not been obtainedbefore the making of a declaration under this section the appropriate authority shall report the makingthereof to the Secretary of State with the utmost practicable speed.
(6)The Secretary of State may, if he thinks fit, direct that any declaration whereby any force is deemedto be, or to continue, on active service shall cease to have effect as from the coming into force of thedirection; but any direction under this subsection shall be without prejudice to anything done by virtueof the declaration before the coming into force of the direction.
(7)A declaration under this section shall have effect not only as respects the members of the force towhich it relates but also as respects other persons the application to whom of any provisions of this Actdepends on whether that force is on active service.
(8)In this section the expression “the appropriate authority” means—
(a)
F2(b)in relation to any force F3, the general officer or brigadier commanding the force, so however that wherethe force is under the command of a flag officer or air officer that officer shall be the appropriateauthority.
(9)
F4(10)Any declaration or direction under this section shall come into operation on being published in generalorders.
Textual Amendments
F1Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1966 (c. 45), s. 20
F2S. 224(8)(a) repealed by Armed Forces Act 1966 (c. 45), s. 20, Sch. 5
F3Words repealed by Armed Forces Act 1966 (c. 45), ss. 20, 37(3), Sch. 5
Textual Amendments applied to the whole legislation
F5Act: the provisions of the 1955 Acts providing for findings of courts-martial to be subject to confirmation and to revision at the direction of the confirming officer cease to have effect (1.4.1997 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) by virtue of 1996 c. 46, s. 15; S.I. 1997/304, arts. 2, 3, Sch. 2
F6Act repealed (1.1.2008 for the repeal of s. 180 only, 1.10.2008 for the repeal of ss. 135-137, 28.3.2009 for further specified purposes and 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 17; S.I. 2007/2913, art. 3 (with art. 4(1)(2)); S.I. 2008/1650, art. 2(e) (with art. 3); S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in The Armed Forces Act 2006 (Transitional Provisions etc) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/1059)); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4; and ss. 9, 133A, Sch. 7 para. 4A continued (with modifications) (31.10.2009) by The Armed Forces (Discharge and Transfer to the Reserve Forces) (No. 2) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1091), regs. 1, 9, 10, 13 (with Sch.) and The Armed Forces (Financial Penalty Enforcement Orders) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1212), regs. 1, 5(2)