MagpieDave Posted 26 July , 2023 Share Posted 26 July , 2023 Hello, Someone that I am researching didn't go to fight in the Great War. He had trained as an engineer/mechanic in his early working life and so was used in the munitions factories in Nottingham where he lived. There was a mention of his name, along with others, that he had joined the Nottingham Citizen Army. What exactly does this mean? What did the Citizen Army do? Did they have to train to be in the Citizen Army? Any information gratefully received Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan1892 Posted 26 July , 2023 Share Posted 26 July , 2023 Many 'hits' when searching the British Newspaper Archives (images courtesy of Find My Past) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan1892 Posted 26 July , 2023 Share Posted 26 July , 2023 The attached images (courtesy of Find My Past) from November 1914 gives a bit of an insight to the aims of the Citizen Army Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan1892 Posted 26 July , 2023 Share Posted 26 July , 2023 43 minutes ago, MagpieDave said: Did they have to train to be in the Citizen Army? Perhaps the attached image will be of assistance (image courtesy of Find My Past) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MagpieDave Posted 26 July , 2023 Author Share Posted 26 July , 2023 Allan1892 - Thank you so much for the for the articles you have posted here - it has certainly given me an insight into what the Citizen Army was all about. Thanks again - much appreciated. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan1892 Posted 26 July , 2023 Share Posted 26 July , 2023 Always happy to assist wherever I can Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 26 July , 2023 Share Posted 26 July , 2023 (edited) 10 hours ago, Allan1892 said: Always happy to assist wherever I can The implication is seemingly a connection with the Volunteer Training Corps (VTC) that eventually morphed into a resurrected Volunteer Force (VF). Is that a correct interpretation Allan? Edited 26 July , 2023 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted 27 July , 2023 Share Posted 27 July , 2023 Though I haven't come across a Wiltshire reference to "Citizen Army", a Civilian Training Corps was mooted for Devizes in late 1914. I have the idea that around this time there were similar suggestions in the national press, preceding the formation of the VTC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan1892 Posted 27 July , 2023 Share Posted 27 July , 2023 13 hours ago, FROGSMILE said: The implication is seemingly a connection with the Volunteer Training Corps (VTC) that eventually morphed into a resurrected Volunteer Force (VF). Is that a correct interpretation Allan? That's how I see it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 27 July , 2023 Share Posted 27 July , 2023 16 minutes ago, Allan1892 said: That's how I see it It certainly seems to fit with similar events going on concurrently in other parts of the nation so I think you’re absolutely right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mk VII Posted 27 July , 2023 Share Posted 27 July , 2023 A number of such groups attempted to form as soon as war was declared. The government was not keen on armed bodies that were not under its direct control, (and they had the example of Ireland before them) also it feared men might use them as an honourable path to avoiding more dangerous service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 27 July , 2023 Share Posted 27 July , 2023 (edited) On 27/07/2023 at 20:50, Mk VII said: A number of such groups attempted to form as soon as war was declared. The government was not keen on armed bodies that were not under its direct control, (and they had the example of Ireland before them) also it feared men might use them as an honourable path to avoiding more dangerous service. Yes I recall reading that it started in London with what was titled initially as the National Guard. See: https://www.tradeshouselibrary.org/uploads/4/7/7/2/47723681/the_national_guard_in_the_great_war_1914-1918.pdf Edited 30 July , 2023 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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