Wartime engine driver?

[Davedrave]

In 1911 Arthur William Sayers (born 1887) of Ilkeston was a house painter. I don’t know his occupation in 1921, but in 1939 he was certainly a house painter. However, in late 1915 he joined the Army Service Corps, though he went into the reserve and doesn’t seem to have seen service until 1918. His trade was given as “engine driver” on enlistment. Is it likely that this was a job he changed to during the war, probably to fill a shortage caused by the war?

[Kiltpin]

A great many miles of temporary railway line were laid behind our trenches to restock the troops. My wife's great grand uncle spent the whole of WWI driving an engine. He was a hatter by trade. 

Regards 

Chas

[Davedrave]

A great many miles of temporary railway line were laid behind our trenches to restock the troops. My wife's great grand uncle spent the whole of WWI driving an engine. He was a hatter by trade. 

Regards 

Chas

The point with Arthur Sayers is that he seems to have become an engine driver before he joined the army, so I wondered whether his change of job from house painter to engine driver was likely to have been due to the war. I think that his war service may actually have involved motor transport.

Dave

[ShaunJ]

I don’t know his occupation in 1921

In 1921 he was a grocer and confectioner at 48 King Street, Ilkeston (transcribed as Saylor).

Same address in the 1925 directory - shopkeeper.

[Davedrave]

I don’t know his occupation in 1921

In 1921 he was a grocer and confectioner at 48 King Street, Ilkeston (transcribed as Saylor).

Same address in the 1925 directory - shopkeeper.

Thanks. Quite a varied employment history. I see that his wife was a grocer in 1939. So there seems to be no way of knowing when or why he he had become an engine driver by 1915.

Dave 

[ColinBignell]

To confuse matters a little more, railways were not the only places that had engine drivers. Traction engines had drivers, while a stationary engine driver ran the steam engine in a factory.

[Davedrave]

To confuse matters a little more, railways were not the only places that had engine drivers. Traction engines had drivers, while a stationary engine driver ran the steam engine in a factory.

Thanks. Yes, I did think of traction engines too, but not of stationary engines. I think the only thing I can conclude is that he wasn’t painting houses at the time he joined up.

Dave 

[jbml]

The thing is ... the Railway Operating Division (which was recruited from professional railwaymen) was part of the Royal Engineers, not the Army Service Corps.

The narrow gauge lines from the foreard supply depots to the front lines were not operated by the ROD ... but I think that they WERE also under the aegis of the RE not the ASC.

[jim1]

I think the stationary engine driver is the most likely occupation
as being a locomotive driver would takes years to achieve.
3 years  just wouldn't cut it.