WW1 Armed Forces - First Aid Certificate holder volunteers

[Mainsforth]

I am trying to find links to a website or other information about articles I understand the Government asked local newspapers to run early in WW1. The Government wanted the holders of first aid certificates to volunteer for service in the armed forces.

I would be grateful for any help you can give me.

John Charles Hunter (1885 - 1967) was a stoneman in a coal mine in South West Durham before he became a Colliery Chargeman (Underground) some time between 2 April and 22 July 1911. UK coal mining internet sources suggest that the duties of a Chargehand were performed by a Deputy in later decades.   

From the early 1900s UK Mining Law required a Chargehand/Deputy to hold a valid first aid certificate.

Coal mining was considered to be important to the UK in World War 2. Coal miners were exempt from being called up to serve in the armed forces. They were in a reserved occupation.

I believe coal miners were not exempt from being called up to serve in the armed forces during the First World War.

The Fleet Air Arm Museum holds a complete WW1 service record for John Charles - he served in Gallipoli and France with the Royal Marines Medical Unit of the Royal Naval Division. He was Mustard Gassed in France.

He returned to Coal Mining after his early 1919 demob.

John Charles may have joined up after reading a local newspaper article asking holders of first aid certificates to volunteer.

[MaxD]

The newspaper collection on Findmypast returns a number of newspaper references to appeals from the War Office through the St Johns Ambulance for 10000 first aid certificate holders to join the Military Home Hospitals Reserve, earliest found April 1915.  No doubt some transferred from home service to units going overseas.

MaxD

[Mainsforth]

Thank you for your post.

My post, to which you replied, should have given a bit more detail of John Charles's enlistment. According to his complete WW1 service record 

His "Final Pre-enlistment" medical took place in 41 Tanner Street, York, on 16 January 1915
He enlisted on 19 January 1915, initially for 3 Years.
He was approved fit for service on 21 January 1915
His RND service number was [Deal] 3287(S) 

You may recall corresponding with me last year about 466/135 (M) HAA Regiment Royal Artillery [Territorial Army] in the Second World War. With your help I was able to tell the story of my father-in-law’s life to his family.

Mainsforth

[MaxD]

I  left a loose end which I had meant to come back on earlier (real life got in the way!).

Enlisting in 1915 meant he was a volunteer so call up was not relevant to his service and I'd suggest it is just as likely that he volunteered simply because he wanted to rather than in response to any newspaper articles.  I find none linking first aid certs and the military (albeit at home) before the April 1915 date anyway.  The fact that he had a cert may well have decided the steer towards the medical unit.

Glad to have been of some small help before, hope this clarifies John Charles!

MaxD