This sections covers Reserved Occupations and the 1941 acts. Again, any thoughts etc would be appreciated. Please note that I recognise that a few lines does not do the subject justice; all I am trying to do is make sure that the picture that I have in my head is basically sound (if a picture can be sound!!) The government needed to ensure that the mandatory call up, along with “voluntary” enlistment, did not affect the provision of civil defence, emergency services and essential industries and services in the UK Essential industries and services had been broken down into three groups: · Group I (Munitions Industries), including metal manufacture, engineering, motors, aircraft and other vehicles, shipbuilding and ship-repairing, metal goods manufacture, chemicals, explosives, oils etc · Group II (Basic Services), including agriculture, mining, national and local government services, gas, water and electricity supply, transport and shipping · Group III (Social Demands), including food, drink and tobacco, textiles, clothing and other manufactures, building and civil engineering, distribution trades, commerce, banking and other services. To ensure that there was sufficient manpower to support these services at the start of the war, a “Schedule of Reserved Occupations” was drawn up in 1938; it was published in the Times on 25th January 1939. The schedule contained a list of all jobs and identified the age at which a person in that occupation could be called up. Some occupations, such as Coach Trimmer, had no age limit, meaning that they could not be called up at any time. Others had an age limit, such as 18, 25 or 30, which meant that they could not be called up if they were on or over that age. Employers could ask for deferment of enlistment of individuals if they were under the specified age limit. Throughout the war, the government continued to try to balance the ever changing military needs whilst maintaining the key industries and services. Further legislation was passed in 1941 namely: · National Service Act 1941, which extended the liability to service in civil defence · National Service (No 2) Act 1941, which stated that all men and women aged between 18 and 60 were liable to some form of national service, including military service for men under 51 and unmarried women between 20 and 30. The “reserved occupations” schedule was abandoned and only a few categories were exempt: • British subjects from outside Britain and the Isle of Man who had lived in the country for less than two years • Northern Ireland • Students • Persons employed by the government of any country of the British Empire except the United Kingdom • Clergy of any denomination • Those who were blind or had mental disorders • Married women • Women who had one or more children 14 years old or younger living with them. This included their own children, legitimate or illegitimate, stepchildren, and adopted children, as long as the child was adopted before 18 December 1941.
Couple of suggestions: The government needed to ensure that the mandatory call up, along with “voluntary” enlistment, did not affect the provision of civil defence, emergency services and essential industries and services in the UK Essential industries and services had been broken down into three groups: [The 'Group' terminology described below wasn't strictly speaking introduced until 1943, but the basic division into three occupational categories had begun in 1939] · Group I (Munitions Industries), including metal manufacture, engineering, motors, aircraft and other vehicles, shipbuilding and ship-repairing, metal goods manufacture, chemicals, explosives, oils etc · Group II (Basic Services), including agriculture, mining, national and local government services, gas, water and electricity supply, transport and shipping · Group III (Social Demands), including food, drink and tobacco, textiles, clothing and other manufactures, building and civil engineering, distribution trades, commerce, banking and other services. [In practice, most military conscripts were drawn from this third group]. To ensure that there was sufficient manpower to support these services at the start of the war, a “Schedule of Reserved Occupations” was drawn up in 1938; it was published in the Times on 25th January 1939. [And subject to several revisions thereafter, which were published in the national press] The schedule contained a list of all jobs and identified the age at which a person in that occupation could be called up. Some occupations, such as Coach Trimmer, had no age limit, meaning that they could not be called up at any time. Others had an age limit, such as 18, 25 or 30, which meant that they could not be called up if they were on or over that age. Employers could ask for deferment of enlistment of individuals if they were under the specified age limit. Throughout the war, the government continued to try to balance the ever changing military needs whilst maintaining the key industries and services. Further legislation was passed in 1941 namely: · National Service Act 1941, which extended the liability to service in civil defence · National Service (No 2) Act 1941, which stated that all men and women aged between 18 and 60 were liable to some form of national service, including military service for men under 51 and unmarried women between 20 and 30. The “reserved occupations” schedule was abandoned and only a few categories were exempt: • British subjects from outside Britain and the Isle of Man who had lived in the country for less than two years • Northern Ireland • Students • Persons employed by the government of any country of the British Empire except the United Kingdom • Clergy of any denomination • Those who were blind or had mental disorders • Married women • Women who had one or more children 14 years old or younger living with them. This included their own children, legitimate or illegitimate, stepchildren, and adopted children, as long as the child was adopted before 18 December 1941. [This gives the impression that after 1941 reservation was abandoned. Not so. Block exemptions were no longer granted (except I think in one or two exceptional cases such as mineworkers), but skilled men in war industry were still exempted from call-up - just on an individual case-by-case basis.]
Alan Thanks once again for your input; I will take those comments on board and amend my "background notes". Turning back to my flight engineer, I have now produced the following script which I hope reflects all that has been said to date: At the outbreak of war, the Government introduced the National Services (Armed Forces) Act 1939 which stated that all British men between the ages of 18 and 41 years, who were fit and able, were liable to serve, if called upon, with one of the military services for the duration of the present emergency. However, the government needed to ensure that the mandatory call up, along with “voluntary” enlistment, did not affect the provision of civil defence, emergency services and essential industries and services in the UK. To this end, they had drawn up a “schedule of reserved occupations”. The enlistment process started on 23rd October 1939, when the Ministry of Labour instructed all men with a date of birth between x and y to register at their local Employment Exchange. Once registered. the men were sent for a medical (at their local Medical Board) and if they were declared fit and able and they were not in a reserved occupation they were called into service as and when required. This process was repeated on a regular basis. With a date of birth of 10th August 1913, Cecil was instructed to attend his local Employment Exchange for registration purposes on Saturday 27th April 1940. He was interviewed by a clerk, who took his personal details such as name, date of birth, address, educational standard, employment etc. He was also asked if he had a preference of service, although he was warned that there was no guarantee that preferences would be met. It is believed that as he was 26 years old, working in “electricity generation” (Power Switchboard Attendant) he was considered to be in a “reserved occupation” for the purposes of enlistment and therefore could not be called up for military service at this time. He returned to civil life with his wife, Ethel, in Woolwich, London and in January 1941, they had a daughter, Carol Margaret. As the war progressed, the Government continued to try to balance the ever changing military needs whilst maintaining the key UK industries and services. Additional legislation was passed in December 1941 which stated that all men and women aged between 18 and 60 were liable to “some form of national service”, including military service for men under 51 and unmarried women between 20 and 30. (“Some form of national service” was deemed to mean civil defence, industry or military service). The new act, The National Service (No 2) Act 1941, contained very few exemptions and the age related exemption of “reserved occupations” had largely disappeared. I now have to fast forward to 1943 when he had his medical ..... would he have been "called up" at this stage or would he have had to volunteer?. If he was called up, what would have been the process?
could i ask a couple of questions please ..was it possible to leave a reserved occupation and volunteer for the forces ?,, plus could you leave a reserved occupation for another job that may have paid more , if you were above the call up age .
it may be of interest my father who was born on october 24th 1900 had to register not sure of the date as i was only about 6 years old at the time , but can certainly remember my mother and father talking about it ...he had served in the WEST YORKS REGT 1919/1922 ,,he wasnt called to serve in the forces Your father was, indeed, in the oldest cohort of men required to register under the National Service (Armed Forces) Act 1939, that is the cohort of men born between 1 July 1900 and 31 December 1900, both dates inclusive. They registered on Saturday 21 June 1941. Few, if any, of them were actually called up for military service.
Alan Thanks once again for your input; I will take those comments on board and amend my "background notes". Turning back to my flight engineer, I have now produced the following script which I hope reflects all that has been said to date: At the outbreak of war, the Government introduced the National Services (Armed Forces) Act 1939 which stated that all British men between the ages of 18 and 41 years, who were fit and able, were liable to serve, if called upon, with one of the military services for the duration of the present emergency. However, the government needed to ensure that the mandatory call up, along with “voluntary” enlistment, did not affect the provision of civil defence, emergency services and essential industries and services in the UK. To this end, they had drawn up a “schedule of reserved occupations”. The enlistment process started on 23rd October 1939, when the Ministry of Labour instructed all men with a date of birth between x and y to register at their local Employment Exchange. Once registered. the men were sent for a medical (at their local Medical Board) and if they were declared fit and able and they were not in a reserved occupation they were called into service as and when required. This process was repeated on a regular basis. With a date of birth of 10th August 1913, Cecil was instructed to attend his local Employment Exchange for registration purposes on Saturday 27th April 1940. He was interviewed by a clerk, who took his personal details such as name, date of birth, address, educational standard, employment etc. He was also asked if he had a preference of service, although he was warned that there was no guarantee that preferences would be met. It is believed that as he was 26 years old, working in “electricity generation” (Power Switchboard Attendant) he was considered to be in a “reserved occupation” for the purposes of enlistment and therefore could not be called up for military service at this time. He returned to civil life with his wife, Ethel, in Woolwich, London and in January 1941, they had a daughter, Carol Margaret. As the war progressed, the Government continued to try to balance the ever changing military needs whilst maintaining the key UK industries and services. Additional legislation was passed in December 1941 which stated that all men and women aged between 18 and 60 were liable to “some form of national service”, including military service for men under 51 and unmarried women between 20 and 30. (“Some form of national service” was deemed to mean civil defence, industry or military service). The new act, The National Service (No 2) Act 1941, contained very few exemptions and the age related exemption of “reserved occupations” had largely disappeared. I now have to fast forward to 1943 when he had his medical ..... would he have been "called up" at this stage or would he have had to volunteer?. If he was called up, what would have been the process? Some further general points: One illustration of the need to adapt the system of reserved occupations was the case of miners, who were initially allowed to volunteer for the armed forces or simply called up, leading to a coalmining manpower crisis in 1943 and the consequent calling-up of men as "Bevin Boys". The principal Act was the National Service (Armed Forces) Act, not the National Services etc Act. The list of exemptions cited omits conscientious objectors, whose position was not changed in principle by the later National Service Acts, although some procedural changes were made. As to Cecil's position, I think on the balance of probabilities he effectively volunteered by negotiating a review of his reserved occupation on the lines suggested by Alan - in other words, he persuaded the Ministry of Labour and National Service that he would be of more use to the war effort by joining the RAF than staying in his present job.
could i ask a couple of questions please ..was it possible to leave a reserved occupation and volunteer for the forces ?,, plus could you leave a reserved occupation for another job that may have paid more , if you were above the call up age . Since the purpose of reserved occupations was to ensure that people with appropriate skills for essential work were there to enable that work to be carried, they only legal way to leave a reserved occupation would be by persuading the Ministry of Labour and National Service that you could serve more usefully elsewhere. Apart from liability for actual military call-up, both men and women up to the age of 60 were subject to essential work orders to ensure maximum effective use of the work force. Leaving a job for better pay would depend on the circumstances.
I don't want to hijack this thread but I have a related question. My grandfather was born on 5 February 1912 and, as I understand it, wasn't supposed to have been called up under the Military Training Act (as being too old). But his card in the index at Kew (AIR 78/50) is stamped "Militia" which I understand from this thread - http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/searching-someone-military-genealogy/45047-searching-information-rafvr-3.html#post502538 - means someone called up under the Military Training Act. The only paperwork I have is an Enlistment Notice dated 20 July 1942 (Form NS 12 under the National Service (Armed Forces) Acts 1939 and 1940) calling him up for service in the RAFVR. The family oral history is that he was called up at some time before this, sent for a medical at the Caird Hall in Dundee, then sent home again to await call up. When would he have been originally required to register, given his date of birth? And why the - what appears to be - long gap from the beginning of the war until he was actually called up? Any help would be great. Thanks
Sorry to butt in on this very interesting thread but how does the following fit with the above statements. My uncle (RAFVR) was a police constable in Suffolk born on 27-06-1919 Did he volunteer or was he called up? His record states: Passed medical on 18-11-1941 Attended Air Crew Selection Board in Euston 21-11-1941 Service commenced from that date but sent back to the police on reserve. Recalled to Babbacombe Aircrew Receiving Centre on 27-04-1942 Any views? Thanks Collers
Collers My understanding is that your uncle would have been required to register on 21 October 1939 (ie the first registration) and, as a policeman, he would have been "reserved in his present occupation" and returned to civil life. This suggests that, like my flight engineer, he would have had to convince an officer from the Ministry of Labour and National Service that he would add more value to the war effort by joining the RAF. He must have achieved this just before his medical in November 1941. As the RAF operated a deferred service, whereby recruits attended their ACSB and then were placed "on reserve" for around 6 months, your uncle would have had to go through this process, hence the notice to rejoin was not until April 1942. Chick42-46 Your grandfather's date for registration was the 25th May 1940. However, I can't explain why his card is marked as "Militia" other than to refer you to the following thread which has further information on this subject. His service number may provide further clues. RAF Manpower and Deferred Service Regards Pete Source: "Manpower; a study of War-Time Policy and Administration by HMD Parker
Thanks for that confirmation Pete. My mother (his sister) told me he had volunteered but folklore being what it is your confirmation is very welcome. Regards Collers
Chick42-46 Your grandfather's date for registration was the 25th May 1940. However, I can't explain why his card is marked as "Militia". The registration date is correct. The only explanation I can offer for the "Militia" stamp is human error in the exigencies of war; it is absolutely certain that your grandfather was never liable under the Military Training Act and therefore never liable for the Militia. As to the reason why he was not called up until two years after registration, it seems most likely that, in common with the two other cases mentioned on this thread, he was in a reserved occupation from which he gained release. I note that you have mentioned his civilian occupation, which clearly is highly relevant to the question.
Thanks for that confirmation Pete. My mother (his sister) told me he had volunteered but folklore being what it is your confirmation is very welcome. Regards Collers One aspect that enabled the release of police constables was the institution of "War Reserve Police", who were mainly men deemed unfit for military service and not meeting normal police requirements but taken on "for the duration" - not necessarily to the community benefit; the War Reserve Police will forever remain tainted by the name John Reginald Halliday Christie.
Thanks for that Drayton Searches throw up very little on Suffolk War Reserve Police so I've no idea if this was the trigger for his release. Collers
Schedule of Reserved Occupations Can anyone point me in the direction of a copy of the Schedule of Reserved Occupations dated 1st October 1941.? My understanding is that this was the last update to the schedule (previous updates being in April and July of that year). Is my understanding correct? Any help, particularly on the first part of my post would be much appreciated. Regards Pete
I thought I would post my final summary, (which has been pieced together with the help of "Drayton") for completeness. I recognise that this really only scratches the surface of a complicated subject, but I found it useful in gaining a basic understanding of the subject. Voluntary National Service In January 1939, as part of its preparations for any potential war, the UK Government issued a “National Service” pamphlet which was “a guide to the ways in which the people of this country may give service”. Its aim was to encourage men and women to volunteer for some form of service in the armed forces or in civilian services such as nursing, women’s auxiliary or fire service. Schedule of Reserved Occupations In parallel, on 25th January 1939, it published a provisional “Schedule of Reserved Occupations” which identified occupations where, in the national interest, restrictions would be placed on anyone that did volunteer. The Government’s aim was to ensure that voluntary enlistment (and/or any mandatory enlistment that might be introduced) did not impact on civil defence, vital industries or the provision of essential services. The National Service (Armed Forces) Act 1939 With the imminence of war, on 2nd September 1939, the Government introduced the National Service (Armed Forces) Bill, which received Royal assent on 3rd September, five hours after the Prime Minister had declared a state of war with Germany. The Act superseded the Military Training Act 1939 and stated that male subjects, between the ages of 18 and 41 years, were liable to be called up for service in the armed forces of the Crown. Process for registration under the Act Posters and public notices in the press and on the BBC were issued instructing men, with specified dates of birth, to attend for registration at their local office of the Ministry of Labour and National Service (Employment Exchange) on a specified date. The first registration took place on 21st October 1939 for men with dates of birth between 2nd October 1917 and 1st October 1919. Men with dates of birth between 4th June 1918 and 3rd June 1919, who had previously registered under the Military Training Act on 3rd June 1939, were excluded. Clerks from the Ministry of Labour and National Service recorded the personal details of each man attending, including age, address, occupation and current employer. The Act entitled men: · to express a preference for Naval or Air Force service, although they were warned that there was no guarantee that preferences would be met. · to provisionally register as a conscientious objector Once registered, the men were issued with a Certificate of Registration (Form NS2). Post –Registration activity The information from the registration day was sent to the Allocation Local Office for processing. Men meeting the age criteria laid out in the “Schedule of Reserved Occupations” and those whose employer had gained approval for their postponement of service were “reserved in their present occupation” and remained in civil life. Men provisionally registered as conscientious objectors remained in civil life subject to them making an application to their local tribunal for a case hearing within 14 days. Failure to do so resulted in their name being removed from the register. The remainder, who were deemed available for military service, remained in civil life, pending instructions. Instructions to attend a medical Men who were available for military service received an instruction (NS6) from their “Allocation Local Office” requiring them to submit themselves to medical examination by a medical board. Medical Boards Medical Boards were attached to each Allocation Local Office, as were recruitment personnel from the various services. Men were assessed and graded in accordance with fitness; their result was recorded on a Medical Card (NS55) At this point, men could apply for postponement of enlistment (Form NS13) on the grounds of extreme hardship by applying for a postponement certificate within two days of their medical; each case was assessed by a local hardship committee. Having completed their assessment they were interviewed by a recruiting officer from their selected (or assigned) armed force. The men, once again, remained in civil life, pending instructions. Post-Medical activity Details of the medical assessments and interviews were sent to the Divisional Offices of the Ministry of Labour, who maintained a register of all men available for posting. Those in medical grades I, II and III would be deemed fit for service (albeit in differing capacities) and added to the register. It is worth noting that the men’s trade skills formed part of the register to ensure that they were utilised in the most effective way in the armed forces. Requests for personnel Each service would submit a list of their manning requirements to the Ministry who would allocate a certain quota to each of the divisional offices. The divisional offices, supported by the recruiting officers from each of the services, would match the men on their register with the requests from the three services. Enlistment Notices (NS12) were issued to the relevant men advising them on when and where to present themselves for service. The ongoing process The process of mandatory registration for National Service continued throughout the war, requiring men with specified dates of birth to register on a given date. Registration dates were irregular; as an example, the 1941 schedule was 11th January, 18th January, 22nd February, 12th April, 17th May, 31st May, 21st June, 12th July, 6th September and 13th December . Volunteers could also apply to join the armed services. They were required to visit their local Recruiting Centre, where they were assessed by an officer from the Ministry of Labour. If accepted, they would be remain in civil life, pending instructions to attend a Medical Board assessment, after which they would be processed in the same manner as mandatory enlistment. Modifications to the process as the war progressed As the war progressed, the Government recognised that changes in legislation, along with changes to the Schedule of Reserved Occupations, would be needed to balance the ever changing needs of the armed forces, civil defence, vital industries and essential services. In 1941, the age groups in the Schedule of Reserved Occupations were significantly increased in three stages: · Stage A on 10th April 1941 · Stage B on 1st July 1941 · Stage C on 1st October 1941 In the same year, legislation was introduced to extend the term “liable to be called up for service in the armed forces” to cover service in civil defence and industry (such as coal mining). Further legislation was introduced to extend that liability to all British males and females aged between 18 and 60 (although military service was restricted to men under 51 and unmarried women between 20 and 30).
I have found this thread very helpful in understanding enlistment in general, but in particular I'm trying to gain an understanding of how the National Services Act 1939 affected university students. My understanding is that being a student was not a 'reserved occupation' as such, but was classified as being 'exempt.' However, Hansard says that: "... undergraduates who are at present liable to be called up under the National Service (Armed Forces) Act are those who had reached the age of 20 and had not reached the age of 21 on 3rd June last. ..... all undergraduates are being given the opportunity to apply to the joint University recruiting boards for assessment of their suitability for commissions in the Armed Forces of the Crown. Following such applications they will be interviewed by the boards or, if they possess certain scientific and technical qualifications, by special technical committees attached to the boards, which will in suitable cases advise that they should be allowed to complete their University course." I'm curious to know if at the outbreak of war were any students allowed to continue their courses before enlisting/volunteering? For example, could a student having started their degree in 1937 or 38 and starting the final year of their degree in the autumn of 1939 still complete their course and then join the armed forces at the completion of their course in 1940? Or was it the case that many degrees were started but not actually finished due to the outbreak of war? My understanding is that later on in the war universities continued to take students, but on shortened 'war degree' courses with the emphasis on certain key areas such as engineering and medicine? Any help greatly appreciated, I'm trying to establish if a young undergraduate could finish their course in 1940, having volunteered for the RAF and then become a Bomber Command pilot later in the war. Thanks in advance, Regards, Nigel
Nigel Having read through my file on this subject my understanding would be that university students were not identified as "a class of person not subject to the act", although "those undergoing training as a cadet at the Royal Military Academy, Royal Military College or the Royal Air Force College" were. As such, they would be subject to the provisions of the act and would need to register for National Service, although, like all others, they could apply for postponement of their liability. Would be interested to hear whether others agree with my understanding. Regards Pete
Some clarification is needed. The provision under the National Service (Armed Forces) Acts (there were a number of amending Acts in addition to the principal Act of 1939) was known as deferment of call-up (not exemption or postponement). All men, including students at university, were required to register under the NS Acts on the date designated for their birth cohort; the question whether call-up would be deferred until completion of the degree depended on a number of factors, including the subject being studied and the stage of the course which had been reached. Certainly some students had call-up deferred, and others were called up immediately; the latter group were entitled to return to their university after demob to complete their degree, but it is known that some, no doubt for various reasons, chose not to do so. The provision of foreshortened 2-year wartime degrees facilitated the process; one factor in the shortening was to insert an extra term into the long vacation between the two years of the course; possibly an extra term was also added immediately following the end of the second academic year, but I am not sure. Although wartime degrees were abolished c 1946, the provision for deferring call-up of students (and apprentices) continued to the end of conscription in 1960.
Drayton You are right in saying that the word "exemption" is incorrect as the wording in the act is "a class of person not subject to the act" (I have edited my previous post to utilise the correct wording) However, the act also states that a person can "postpone their liability to serve in the armed forces" and apply for a postponement certificate, so I believe that word is used correctly. Having said all that, I think we both conclude that students had to register for National Service and were subject to the same rules as others. Regards Pete
