Derby Scheme Attestations (Interesting Happenings in Kincardineshire.)

[rolt968]

While looking for something else I came across this fascinating artictle in the Stonehaven Journal of 6 April 1916:

 

 

Can anyone explain exactly what Lt. Plummer was doing in November 1916, please?

Was he going round attesting men who had already registered or at least indicated interest in registering under the Derby Scheme or was he setting up shop in places in rural areas to register and attest men?

RM

 

[MaxD]

The report, although dated 1916, is dealing with events of November and December 1915 when the last minute rush to beat the deadline of 11 Dec 1915 when attestation under the Derby Scheme had to be complete.  So he was engaged in attesting men who were coming forward at the last minute.

 

MaxD

Edited 23 June , 2021 by MaxD

[Dai Bach y Sowldiwr]

2 hours ago, rolt968 said:

Can anyone explain exactly what Lt. Plummer was doing in November 1916, please?

The newspaper of April 6th 1916 relates to a court case relating to unsavoury events that occurred in the previous November & December (ie 1915).

[Matlock1418]

4 hours ago, rolt968 said:

While looking for something else I came across this fascinating artictle in the Stonehaven Journal of 6 April 1916:

Certainly most 'trying' circumstances.

Do you know the outcome for Lt Plummer?

:-) M

[kenf48]

 

6 hours ago, rolt968 said:

Can anyone explain exactly what Lt. Plummer was doing in November 1916, please?

Was he going round attesting men who had already registered or at least indicated interest in registering under the Derby Scheme or was he setting up shop in places in rural areas to register and attest men?

Typo in your original.

The incident was widely reported in the press both in Scottish and English newspapers and even raised in the House of Commons.

 

Under the National Registration Act there was a system of civilian recruiting agents, though the term was often applied more loosely to include for example Zeppelins and the Church; in October 1915 organised labour became involved to promote Lord Derby's initiative.  The recruiting agents, rather in the style of census enumerators, visited men of military age to encourage them to enlist.

 

The reports state that on the 3rd December 1915 the recruiting agents had opened up the Drill Hall at Aberflour at 10a.m. to receive recruits under the Derby Scheme who had intimated their desire to enlist under the Scheme.  Lieutenant Plummer, who was stationed at Aberdeen did not arrive until 1p.m.  Presumably he anticipated he would do the paperwork after the men had been medically examined.  It was alleged by the time he arrived there were upwards of twenty five men waiting to attest.  Not only had the potential recruits in the district been given a holiday to attest, the cursory medical meant they were hanging around and so they went for a drink.  One only has to see the queues and crowds in urban areas to recognise the recruiting officer may have been overwhelmed by the numbers eager to attest.

 

The incident occurred much later in the day around 6p.m. when Stewart presented for attestation, and after an altercation with the recruiting officer was assaulted as described.  The incident was raised in the House of Commons as the Procurator Fiscal stopped civil proceedings and no criminal charges were brought.  The newspaper is reporting on a a military Court of Inquiry, it was emphasised,not a Court Martial.  At the conclusion it was decided Lieutenant Plummer had suffered extreme provocation and he was severely reprimanded.  No civil or criminal cases were brought and the civil authorities, including the Government were satisfied the incident had been correctly dealt with by the military.

 

Lt. Plummer had been wounded earlier in the war and judging from later reports, assuming it is the same man, he was active in Warwickshire with the Local Tribunal as late as 1918.

[rolt968]

Thank you to everyone. That's all very interesting.

 

I had not realised that the attesting/ recruiting officers had travelled to small tonws villages to attest men under the Derby scheme. It may explain some of the surprising places of recruitment which have turned up in Soldiers Died in the Great War.

 

Thank you for the explanation about the type of court, which is not clear in the newspaper. It explains the type of evidence which Lt Plummer seems to have been trying to lead which would probably not have been allowed in other types of court. (I can't help feeling that as evidence for actual defence as distinct from mitigation Sgt Farrow's evidence was a mixed blessing and might easily have lead to the thought that after many hours of trying and provoking situations Lt Plummer's patience might have snapped.)

 

Lt Plummer was from the "local" regiment but sgt Farrow was from the Scots Guards. Was there any significance in this? (Looking out for potential guardsmen?)

RM

 

 

[kenf48]

1 hour ago, rolt968 said:

Lt Plummer was from the "local" regiment but sgt Farrow was from the Scots Guards. Was there any significance in this?

I doubt it, Lt Plummer was 'Home Service' due to wounds, it was stated his left arm was 'virtually useless' as a consequence of two pieces of grenade fragments.  As to character, incidentally it was stated he had returned from the USA at the outbreak of war.  The Sergeant was probably a 'bag carrier' employed in the main recruiting office at Aberdeen.  It didn't sound as if he was too impressed with the quality of the potential recruits - not for the Guards!