War exemption

[Guest Charlton]

Hello,

I have one or two relatives that worked in the steel and chemical industries in the FWW, and who would have been exempt. Does anyone know the process involved in this exemption? They worked there before 1914 so would not need to be directed by the Ministry Of Munitions. Were tribunals created to sift these workers? Would there be any paper trail? Did it depend upon local bureaucracies, or were they regional?

Many thanks,

Charlton

[CarylW]

Charleton

You asked about a paper trail Try the local newspapers for the area your relations lived in.

I've found instances of Military Tribunal hearings listed in full for those claiming exemption in local newspapers during the Great war period. A lot of records of Military Tribunals for WW1 were destroyed in 1921, only some survive in a few record offices, so most surviving reports look to be in newspapers. All those who claimed exemption were sent before a local tribunal, appointed by the local council, to have the sincerity of their claim assessed.

Your relations may have automatically been exempt though, as you thought. I've found official notices posted in newspapers for men engaged in work of national importance being excluded from the Military service Acts so they may not have had to attend a tribunal

There is a lot more Here about Military Tribunals

I'm not that knowledgable about the issue though so hopefully someone who knows more can reply to you and correct me if I'm wrong and I'd like to know more myself about the whole thing

Caryl