Junk mail

[Desmond7]

As most will know, there was no conscription in Ireland for political reasons during WW1. There were many recruiting drives ongoing throughout the conflict.

I have recently been given a photocopy of an original piece of WW1 'junk mail' which seems to have emanated from 'The Department of Recruiting for Ireland'.

This consists of (a) a facsimile letter from Wimbourne, the Lord Lt. of Ireland and DG of recruiting. It is dated Nov. 8 1915. This commences:-

"Dear Sir, I do not appear to have yet received your reply to my recent appeal ...."

and then goes on to urge the recipient to enlist in an Irish Regt.

From this I assume that an unsolicited letter writing campaign was being waged by the Recruiting Authorites. Or to use the modern term 'junk mail'.

The letter also includes a 'stamped addressed envelope' and a 'I wish to join' form.

Now imagine getting one of those through your door!

Des

Anyone come across this?

[robbie]

How interesting, Des. Can you scan them and post?

Robbie

[Gary Samson]

Now imagine getting one of those through your door!

...and filling it out with your neighbour's details!

Gary

[robbie]

Now imagine getting one of those through your door!

...and filling it out with your neighbour's details!

Gary

Fabulous idea, Gary.

Now where can I get one, or two, or three...?

Robbie

[Desmond7]

I will key them in - they are left in work. Or I'll get one of the boys in work to scan them. My home scanner is not speaking to me at the moment.

And ... all joking aside, I wonder if that scenario EVER DID take place!!!

Des

[Desmond7]

The text of the letter was:-

The Department of Recruiting for Ireland.

November 8, 1915

DearSir,

I do not appear to have yet received your reply to my recent appeal.

The general response has given an earnest of what Ireland can do, but the need is still for men and more men.

If you are willing to come forward, I invite you to sign the enclosed form and post it in the accompanying envelope.

Yours faithfully,

(facsimile of signature) Wimborne.

Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and Director General of Recruiting.

The form ...

You are requested to fill in and post this form to the Dept of Recruiting in the accompanying envelope, without delay. No stamp is required.

I voluntarily undertake to enlist, when called upon, FOR THE PERIOD OF THE WAR, in the Division, Regt, or Battalion I mention.

name, address, occupation, age, height. (to be filled in)

Side panel - If you have any preference write below the name of the irish Regt. you desire to join, specifying the battalion or Division to which you would like to be posted.

Des

[robbie]

Thanks Des.

Nice justapositioning of "You are requested to fill in and post this form to the Dept of Recruiting in the accompanying envelope, without delay. No stamp is required" WITH this: "I voluntarily undertake to enlist, when called upon, FOR THE PERIOD OF THE WAR".

So is is voluntary service but not voluntary filling-in of the form...Robbie

[BeppoSapone]

Des

I know that Conscription was not extended to Ireland, and assume that the "Derby Scheme" also was not.

It would be interesting to see the 'bumf' for the "Derby Scheme" and 'compare and contrast'.

The success rate of the Irish scheme would also be interesting to know, being that it was never underwritten with the vague, or not so vague, threat of compulsion.