Saturday June 22^nd, 1918

Reported sick and got no duty. Very thankful. Feel bad. Wind still rough. Wrote home – green envelopeº. Sent postcards.

British Conscription

Several days ago, we looked at Conscription across the Dominions – in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Newfoundland and South Africa.  Today, the newspapers are full of the challenges of the new conscription age in Britain.  All men up to the age of 50 are now in scope for war service.  The problems are such that subject is being debated in Parliament.

Medical Boards & Classification

Much of the criticism is falling upon the revised classification system and the Medical Boards.   ‘It is necessary, in the interests of the nation, the army, and the individual alike, that the medical grading of men liable to military service shall be properly conducted.’

Harold Tennant, Liberal MP for Berwickshire in Scotland is leading the attack.  He briefly served in his brother-in-law’s, Herbert Asquith, cabinet in 1916.  He is now a back bencher who supports socially-minded causes.²

Tennant was eloquent in his concerns about the dangers of the new medical examination: ‘It has ….. a quadruple disadvantage.  You not only do a grave injustice to the man himself, but you take him away from work which may be of great national importance, and deprive the nation of that work; you increase the charge to the army for hospital accommodation and treatment, and you increase  the charge for pensions.’¹

The primary complaint seems to be that the previously straightforward classification of a potential soldier’s health has been replaced by one that considers his health in the context of his age. The phrase, ‘Isn’t he good for his age?’ takes on a whole new meaning.

The Guardian continued, ‘It is manifestly designed to get as many men as possible past the exemption tribunals and into the army…. The absurd system of ‘relative’ fitness  should at once be abandoned. A man is fit for certain work, or he is not fit. His relative fitness in proportion to his age will not help him to do it, or save him from failure or breakdown.’¹

I haven’t found any more information on this topic. Does anyone know whether it was just the teething problems of the new system or a meaningful concern, and if anything changed as a result?

Return of the Miners

By contrast, soldiers in France who were formally miners and are now classified as B2 or less (unfit for fighting) are being sent home to go back down the mines.  Coal stocks are very low and thousand more miners are required.  Over 8,000 have already returned but more are needed.

13^th (Service) Battalion War Diary – 22^nd June 1918 – Divisional Horse Show Ground, Cugunci

Routine altered to: Reveille 4:30, Breakfast 05:15, Parade 06:30 – 09:30 & 17:30 –  18:30 hrs. All meals are cooked and eaten in La Marraine Camp – the men being ?? up. Fatigues as usual. B & C Coys firing on Rifle Range. A & D on the Lewis Gun Range.

References & Further Reading

º Thanks to Charlie of the Manchesters.org (see comments) – who deciphered Frank’s handwriting and provided insight.

¹ ‘The Medical Board and The Nation’, in the Guardian , June 22nd, 1918, page 4

² ‘Harold Tennant‘ on Wikipedia

* image of Harold Tennant from the Welcome Collection.  Colour lithograph by Sir L. Ward [Spy], for Vanity Fair, 1909. May be subject to copyright.

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