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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: 3473peter on Thursday 11 February 21 11:11 GMT (UK)
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To my knowledge, my grandfather never served in the great war, Is there a way of finding out if he was a conscientious objector or in a reserved occupation or medically unfit? The reason I ask is he was born 1886 and would have been of age to volunteer or conscripted, his occupation was a sugar worker labourer and later in life a crane driver. Everyone else I have researched during the great war seems to have served, In the later years of his life and myself being so young, I remember him being a bit deaf and for some reason I remember the fraise flat-footed about him! BUT my father used to call him the DODGER! My grandfather was a very quite man, but my father used to argue with him, I think about the great war, also I was told once my grandfather was threatened in a local pub, as said he was a very quite man, also he never married until 1919, Any ideas as its always bugged me and thought I would ask the question, sorry its so long winded and thank you for your time and any replies.
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I'm afraid you will probably never know for sure.
He wasn't in a reserved occupation as a labourer in a sugar factory.
There are no lists of conscientious objectors. Had be been one he would
have been imprisoned or sent away to work on farms.
He may have been medically unfit at attestation but he would still have had a service record.
Unfortunately about 70% of these were destroyed in WW2.
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Thank you Jim1, very enlightening, but I do feel there is something not right. stay safe and healthy my friend, ps, do you know when the 1921 censes will be available to the public, Thank you again.
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Thank you Jim1, very enlightening, but I do feel there is something not right. stay safe and healthy my friend, ps, do you know when the 1921 censes will be available to the public, Thank you again.
2022
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If he was a conscientious objector, he may have been prosecuted and that will be reported in the newspapers. I have a great uncle who I found mentioned twice in reports at the time.
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Thank you AntonyMMM for your reply, any ideas where to search newspapers for Silvertown/North Woolwich West Ham Essex, I must admit I never heard of any reports, but things were kept quite in those family days, I feel more likely medical reasons? but worth a look? thank you again for your help.
Stay safe and healthy my friend.
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The only district where records of the tribunals have been kept is Middlesex, but he is probably just out of that area.
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/middlesex-military-service-appeal-tribunal-1916-1918/
If a man failed in his appeal to the tribunal, he would have then been ordered to report for military duty - if he didn't report, he might then be arrested for desertion ( which was the case with my relative).
All you can probably do is search likely newspapers locally for his name/address.
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You are right Anthony in that being born in 1886 would of made him 28 years old in 1914 which would of put into the age range that served in the war. The majority of men in this period were NOT considered to be fit enough for the forces. Even men that went through the recruiting office quick medical were often rejected within days of reporting to their allocated barracks. Unfit is the most likely reason as he would appear not to have had a family that depended on him. By late 1915 they tried the Derby scheme which enabled a man to volunteer and be called up later to the unit of his choosing but this is unlikely to be a part of your grandfathers story. Local newspapers varied considerably in how they reported objectors so all I can suggest is going through the war years page by page but unlikely to yield a result.
A man from our village, a baker, was finally ordered to report for duty in 1918, he refused, police picked him up and marched him to a local prison and the army collected him the following day. He was lucky - he served as a bandsman in the Tank Corps for a few months and was not posted overseas.