UK conscription WW2 (General)

by slowhands , proud of his ancient Dean Forest roots, Wednesday, August 07, 2013, 16:45 (4127 days ago) @ downunder

I have a feeling there won't be, but is there anywhere online where you can check when someone joined the Glosters near the start of the second world war? There is a site where you can check Aussie regiments, but I think the rules are different in the UK.

And would a married man born in 1912 have been automatically conscripted in 1939 in the UK or would he still have been exempt in 1938 and so joined up voluntarily? Very curious to know as I only know the Aussie situation again.

Thanks muchly everyone

At the outbreak of war, on 3 September 1939, the Military Training Act was overtaken by the National Service (Armed Forces) Act, and the first intake was absorbed into the army. This act imposed a liability to conscription of all men 18 to 41 years old. Men could be rejected for medical reasons, and those engaged in vital industries or occupations were 'reserved' at a particular age beyond which no one in that job would be enlisted. For example, lighthouse keepers were 'reserved' at 18 years old. From 1943, some conscripts were directed into the British coal mining industry and become known as the 'Bevin Boys'. Provision was also made for conscientious objectors, who were required to justify their position to a tribunal, with power to allocate the applicant to one of three categories: unconditional exemption; exemption conditional upon performing specified civilian work (frequently farming, forestry or menial hospital work); exemption from only combatant service, meaning that the objector had to serve in the specially created Non-Combatant Corps or in some other non-combatant unit such as the Royal Army Medical Corps.

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>