TF home service

[tipperary]

If a TF man had elected not to serve overseas was there a point at which they were compelled to do so ie on the introduction of conscription.

[Muerrisch]

Yes, exactly so.

There was a lot of coercion before then!

[tipperary]

[

Thank you Grumpy i can imagine there would have been a lot of presure on a man if the majority of a unit opted to serve overseas.

[Petroc]

Hi Munster,

I think there would indeed have been some considerable pressure, but not simply on individuals. If I recall correctly, one of Prof Ian Beckett's studies of the TF and auxiliary forces has provided evidence of long-standing animosity and rivalry between men of the 1st Bucks Battalion who opted for overseas service and those who did not (and who afterwards formed the nucleus of the 2/1st Battalion).

Andy

[geraint]

It worked the other way as well. I have info on a pre August 1914 territorial, a member in the town's 4th Bttn RWF TF, who had applied to volunteer for overseas service and was refused from doing so by the local company officers. He appealed to the Town Council, and was still refused. He left Ruthin, and went 150 miles to Cardiff and enlisted in the SWBorderers as a volunteer.

[sw63]

Sorry to Hijack your post Munster.

This is a question I've been thinking about too. I'd also like to know if men who enlisted pre-war (originally electing not to serve overseas) who then volunteered to go with their unit in 1915 would have worn the "Imperial Service" badge.

Or was the wearing of the badge discontinued when in theatre?

Simon