Conscripts with Criminal Records

[Belmont Road]

A quick question please:

Could men with criminal records be conscripted into the armed forces in 1916?

Many thanks,

Jack

[Chris_Baker]

Yes, unless they were exempt for another reason: see http://www.1914-1918.net/msa1916.html

[Belmont Road]

Thank you Chris, so no restrictions at all then?

Would the nature of the offence be a consideration in any way?

Jack

[centurion]

I think I remember this being discussed briefly quite some time ago. It seems possible that the view taken at the time was that exempting someone who had a criminal record might have been seen as a 'reward' for that behaviour so that honest men faced all the discomforts and dangers of war but criminals or those with a criminal past escaped them.

[Hedley Malloch]

Convicts were released for military service. One is said to have won the VC, his name and decoration are said to be on the war memorial at Parkhurst Prison. I say 'said' because nobody is allowed to photograph it.

[ss002d6252]

This is apparently the Parkhurst memorial

http://www.isle-of-w...stprisoners.htm

[IPT]

That's a great tale in the link from the above article;

Untold Tale of the Convict VC

http://www.telegraph...ame-a-hero.html