Demobilisation of key workers

[MelPack]

Hello

I have come across one or two references that suggest that key workers such as miners were discharged from front line infantry units in advance of the end of hostilities.

Does anyone have any information as to the precise date this policy was adopted and the categories of occupations covered?

regards

Mel

[Take on me]

Not for British servicemen but I believe that French soldiers with four or more dependent children could be discharged. Furthermore in 1917 the French Army was forced to release 400,000 men for agriculture and another 300,000 for industry.

JGM

[horatio2]

It certainly happened among the RMLI Short Service recruits and, from memory, such discharges started quite a long time before the Armistice (perhaps from late 1917?). As a couple of examples: of some 3,500 Chatham Division RMLI Short Service men enlisted, 80+ were discharged during the war "To Civil Employment" under Admiralty regulations. In Plymouth Division RMLI it was 60+ out of 3,300. So, around 2% were discharged in this way and most went back to the coal mines. Most had served in the Royal Naval Division.