Post-March 1916 Recruitment regulations in Ireland during the Great Wa

[MJROB]

Evening all,

Just a quick question/discussion starter regarding the regulations and system of recruits at enlistment in Ireland.

Having read the Medical Services report during the Great War (published in 1921) in Britain, as conscription and the Miltiary Service Acts were introduced, there were changes in the rules and regulations concerning how recruits were assessed at enlistment. As these acts were never implemented in Ireland, does anyone have any further information or thoughts on whether Irish recruiting staff continued with the pre-conscription system of voluntary recruitment procedures or whether the new classifications regarding concripts in Britain (e.g. category A,B,C,D, men) was also applied to volunteers in Ireland?

Any information or input would be warmly welcomed.

Regards,
MJROB

[tony paley]

Hi,

I have looked in 'Irish Soldier and the Great War' Dungan. Whilst he speaks of conscription and the opposition to it, there is no mention of the medical standards regarding regular recruits. However I would doubt very much if standards for enlisting into the regular army would be lowered. I could stand corrected but at that time any enlistment into the forces in Ireland would be as a regular. No Territorial Force either. Dungan does mention that around 40,000 Irishmen left Ireland to work in munitions and other related industries to the war effort.

Tony P