Brothers "Claiming" Brothers within the DLI

[snminc]

Greetings to all,

I've recently remembered a conversation with my Grandmother where she said my Grandfather was "Claimed" by his elder brother after them both enlisted in the DLI.

Was this a common practice during WWI?

Has it been phased out and if so when and why?

I vaguely remember seeing a film about 6 brothers who all served on the same US Warship and were all lost with the ship which resulted in the US changing their rules to prevent another family from sustaining so many loses in one day.

Thanks in advance,

Scott

[KF Kelly]

I know this is not about WW1 but my father was conscripted in 1940 into the Royal Artillery. He told me that when he heard he was going to India he arranged with his elder brother to be 'claimed' to the Royal Engineers where he served for 5 years.

Kevin

[snminc]

Thanks for your input Kevin, I wasn't sure if the "claiming" practice was stopped during/after WWI. obviously not.

Scott

[ragamuffin]

Greetings to all,

I vaguely remember seeing a film about 6 brothers who all served on the same US Warship and were all lost with the ship which resulted in the US changing their rules to prevent another family from sustaining so many loses in one day.

Thanks in advance,

Scott

This was in WW2. I think there were only 5 of them. There were the Sullivan brothers and the film was called the 'fighting sullivans', I think. The practice continued on. Especially in Germany, where whole familes were thrown into the fray, especially in the last few days.