55. Injury to property.-

Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the following offences, that is to say,-

(a) destroys or injures any property mentioned in clause (a) of section 54, or any property belonging to any military, naval or air force mess, band or institution, or to any person subject to military, naval or air force law, or serving with, or attached to the Air Force, or;

(b) commits any act which causes damage to, or destruction of, any property of the Government by fire; or

(c) kills, injures, makes away with, ill-treats or loses any animal entrusted to him; shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable, if he has acted willfully, to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned; and if he has acted without reasonable excuse to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.