Page 18 - RVM-HB-KTHFB
P. 18
Keep The Home Fires Burning
Changing Roles
The family during the war was under great stress, even if the bread winner was not
serving with the forces at the start of war. The constant combing out by the Army, made
it more likely that he would serve in the Army, sooner or later.
The military tribunal gave workers and their employers a chance to get a temporary, or a
full exemption for either a skill needed or on compassionate grounds or occasionally as a
conscientious objector. On one day in 1916 applications for exemption from military
service ranged from boot makers, blacksmiths, gas fitters, fish hook makers’ needle
polishers and a sail palm maker who was engaged in work for prisoners of war.
The Derby plan’ men held a church parade In January 1915 1,101 men lined up in front
of the church, 312 single men and 771 married men It was noted that 75 percent of the
British Army was married. There was a national married men verses single man campaign
that. Meeting were held to protest about single men not doing their duty that ‘they were
hiding behind their badges’. the Letter pages of the “Redditch Indicator”, took up the
argument with relish, ‘Soldier’, writes that he wondered why “ a young Dandy “was not
in the army but saw he had a war service badge, “ I happen to know that this young
exquisite is simply a pen- and-ink man in a local controlled factory”. Single and badged
wanted know how many married men had taken the country’s 2/9d and attested being
assured they would not be called on. But soon more families were deprived of the main
bread winner as conscription was finely introduced.
Page: 18 Source: Sue Tatlow
Changing Roles
The family during the war was under great stress, even if the bread winner was not
serving with the forces at the start of war. The constant combing out by the Army, made
it more likely that he would serve in the Army, sooner or later.
The military tribunal gave workers and their employers a chance to get a temporary, or a
full exemption for either a skill needed or on compassionate grounds or occasionally as a
conscientious objector. On one day in 1916 applications for exemption from military
service ranged from boot makers, blacksmiths, gas fitters, fish hook makers’ needle
polishers and a sail palm maker who was engaged in work for prisoners of war.
The Derby plan’ men held a church parade In January 1915 1,101 men lined up in front
of the church, 312 single men and 771 married men It was noted that 75 percent of the
British Army was married. There was a national married men verses single man campaign
that. Meeting were held to protest about single men not doing their duty that ‘they were
hiding behind their badges’. the Letter pages of the “Redditch Indicator”, took up the
argument with relish, ‘Soldier’, writes that he wondered why “ a young Dandy “was not
in the army but saw he had a war service badge, “ I happen to know that this young
exquisite is simply a pen- and-ink man in a local controlled factory”. Single and badged
wanted know how many married men had taken the country’s 2/9d and attested being
assured they would not be called on. But soon more families were deprived of the main
bread winner as conscription was finely introduced.
Page: 18 Source: Sue Tatlow
