Hi, I'm doing a bit of research into conscription etc and wondered if anyone could answer any of the following questions. 1/ Could boys could join up/volunteer before 18 years of age and if so whatwould be their role once trained. 2/ What was the armies role in London during the blitz and were there any specific stations/bases. 3/ Apart from Colchester & Catterick what were the other major army bases/barracks.
Hi Baldeagle and Welcome I believe boys as young as 15 could enlist as musicians ... for the regimental bands ... but they wouldn't be called up until they were 18 ! The Civil Defence was responsible for the rescue services during the Blitz .... the Army being busy elsewhere ! ... this site may give you some ideas !! HOLNET - London at War 1939-1945 - Children/Young People Somebody else will probably be able to tell you about the camps ! .... I'm a Northerner !!
Wiki has this list of British Army bases .... maybe you could take a look through these and see which ones were in use in WW2 !! Category:British Army bases - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Depends on which trade they were going in for, so that defined which base they were sent to. The RAF sent quite a few to Blackpool for radio training and such. The Navy used to take boys as young as 15 in WW1, but the army and RAF were 17. However it was not uncommon for lads to lie about their age to enlist, most being sent home when they were found out.
Don't know if this will be much good to you .... but I found this !! In April 1939 the British Government introduced the Military Training Act. The terms of the act meant that all men between the ages of 20 and 21 had to register for six months' military training. At the same time a list of 'reserved occupations' was published. This listed occupations that were essential to the war effort and stated that those employed in those jobs were exempt from conscription. Reserved Occupations Dock Workers Miners Farmers Scientists Merchant Seamen Railway Workers Utility Workers - Water, Gas, Electricity When war broke out in September 1939, some men volunteered to join the armed services, but Britain could still only raise 875,000 men. Other European countries had kept conscription between the wars and were able to raise much larger armies than Britain. In October 1939 the British government announced that all men aged between 18 and 41 who were not working in 'reserved occupations' could be called to join the armed services if required. Conscription was by age and in October 1939 men aged between 20 and 23 were required to register to serve in one of the armed forces. They were allowed to choose between the army, the navy and the airforce As the war continued men from the other registered age groups received their 'call-up' papers requiring them to serve in the armed forces. In 1941 single women aged between 20 and 30 were also conscripted. Women did not take part in the fighting but were required to take up work in reserved occupations - especially factories and farming - to enable men to be drafted into the services.
Not sure how relevant it is but I know that my Dad spent time at Stirling. Epping Forest is mentioned on his Service Record & I know he enlisted in Holloway. What about Aldershot?
Hi BE, welcome aboard. The Gettysburg pic is CK's signature. You'll see it on all his posts much like my Blenheims below.
