proceedings on discharge

[Saratan]

I am trying to understand the ‘Proceedings on Discharge’ of Leonard Holmes as this record and medal card are the only ones available for him.

He signed up for the Royal Garrison Artillery (Cornwall) [Reg. No. 323030] as a Gunner in Worcester on either 3rd or 15th/9/16 and was discharged on 23 August 1917 at Dover as medically unfit suffering from Rheumatism and Myalgia.

On the report the      Date of Enlistment is given as 11/12/15 and 

Date of Mobilization is 15/9/16.

His address is given as Sedgeberrow in Worcestershire.

Where my confusion arises is that on 10/6/16 a newspaper report of the Pebworth Rural Tribunal shows that his employer (DT Prosser of Grenvelle Hall Farm at Hinton on the Green (two miles from Sedgeberrow) applied for an absolute exemption for him. The Tribunal granted Leonard a conditional exemption.

What is the difference between a date of enlistment and a date of of mobilization? And if he was enlisted in December 1915 why did he go to the tribunal six months later?

[ss002d6252]

The December 1915 date was when he attested under the Derby Scheme and was then sent home in the Class B reserve awaiting his call-up, which didn't happen until Sep 1916.

A request for exemption could not be made until he had joined the Class B reserve. So, at some point during that period, the exemption request was made. Why it was that particular point in time would probably need records that no longer exist.

Craig

[kenf48]

Men who attested under the Derby or Group Scheme would normally be called up in their Group according to age and marital status.  The extended Scheme finally ended on March 1st 1916 with the introduction of conscription.

Attested men were given an armlet to show they had attested before a Magistrate or authorised Officer to demonstrate their willingness to serve in the Army and as Craig says posted to the Army Reserve B

https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/soldiers/a-soldiers-life-1914-1918/enlisting-into-the-army/the-group-scheme-derby-scheme/

 Once attested a man, or his employer, could apply for exemption from military service on occupational grounds (exemption could also be sought on other grounds as described in the Military Service Act. 

Most Local Tribunal records were deliberately destroyed after the war and whilst the present emphasis is on the treatment of those who sought exemption on conscientious grounds the COs were a tiny minority.  Over 40  %  of applications at the Banbury Tribunal were made on occupational grounds and a similar percentage on grounds of hardship;10% a combination of both.  We have to assume this was representative across all Tribunals.

it also seems the default position was to appeal if there was not already an automatic exemption for ‘certified’ or reserved occupations.

The Tribunal could turn down any application or grant a temporary, conditional or absolute exemption. Throughout the war, either legislation or directives meant the granting of exemptions narrowed as more manpower was needed for the Army.  Conditional exemption, as in Holmes case was usually granted in three month blocks, often to give the employer an opportunity to recruit a woman, an older man or a soldier no longer fit for service.  It was possible to apply to the Appeal Tribunal but opportunity was limited. 

Once the conditional period expired a man could appear before the Tribunal to seek further extension or simply accept his fate and was mobilised.  

[Saratan]

Many thanks for the explanation. I had wrongly assumed that the Derby scheme was only for single men. -other bachelors  in the village had also attested under the derby scheme so I guess they went together.

[kenf48]

2 hours ago, Saratan said:

I had wrongly assumed that the Derby scheme was only for single men

When the Scheme was launched married men were told that they would not be called until all the single men had been mobilised.  Similarly the initial Military Service Act (January 1916) only applied to single men.  It was hastily amended by the Military Service (No2) Act (May 1916) to include all men aged 18 to 41. 

Throughout the period the most intense psychological and actual pressure was placed on single men to come forward. They usually received short shrift at the Tribunals, but even then it was estimated over a million, eligible single men had remained in reserved occupations and had not volunteered fro military service.