Genealogy Chat

Hi Why wouldn't a man enlist in WW1? Still on William Mack. My Grandad would have been about 34 at the onset surley not too old, and being a window cleaner I don't think would make him exempt. I have cert. of exemption for my other Grandad even for WW11 as he was deaf and in the second war he would have been in his 40's. Could it be he suffered with nervous breakdowns like my said?. Germaine

Is it possible that he was a 'Conscientious Objector'? If you think he might have been then you can google for more info. Janet

Hiyah Never thought of that will go and have a look though nothing was ever said wonder if after all he was Irish and that was something to with it too. Germaine

If he was Irish and in 1916, well what more can I say!! Having said that, not all irish people would feel that way. Many Irishmen were the backbone of the British Army and Navy, including my own Irish father. Remember that until 1946 Ireland was part of the British Isles politically. within Commonwelth. It was only after 1946/9 that they left the Commonwealth, and became a Republic, though still remaining geograpically part of the British Isles. Your ancestor would have been called up in 1916 when conscription came in, and he may have been in Ireland at that time, fighting his own war?? Or, and this may be the simplest and more correct answer that he would not have been first choice for call up in 1916 as 18-25+ year olds were what they wanted for cannon fodder! Janet

Thanks Janet, Could well be because they were Irish Granny Mack was Irish too. Thanks for telling me that they weren't a Republic till in the 40's ignorant didn't realise it was so recent, thought it went back to the 1800's you learn osmething every day!!!. I just had a quick look and think there may be a list of objectors at the National Archives will have to look properly may get a lead ther who lnows. Thansk again Germaine Just been thinking, my Mum said they took him away when she was a little girl (said it was somesort of a breakdown) now if he was an objector wouldn't he have been put in prison, not something that would have been told to a little girl it could well be a reason for all the mystery of the man. An old lady who knew him as a little girl once told me he was a very gentle man (lovley) sadly she died a few years ago and she is the only person apart from my Mum and aunties that knew sadly evrybody is dead now. Wish I had been able to do this years ago.

Ahh that sounds nicer too old!!! Hope so he did sounded a nice man Germaine Like you said cannon fodder !! I had a great uncle killed only 19 what a nice looking bloke and he didn't need to have gone but had said he didn't want a white feather even though he had one of those jobs that made you exempt.

Thanks for the message Janet I can't type fast either as you can see by the mistakes. Could well be he was waiting nothing was ever mentioned about WW1 in my Mum's family although it was talked about on my Dad's which made me wonder.Start you thinking my Mum only seemed to talk about her life after he ahd died a little before, but not much so you start to think WHY!!. Germaine

Germaine About one third (?) of men called up or volunteers in WW1 were medically unfit to serve. This was due to, mainly, poor nutrition and health care, which meant that they were below the minimum height and weight, or suffering from some disability. It was this disgraceful state of affairs that eventually led to the setting up of the National Health Service in 1948 - took a while - but I believe that clinics and so on were set up after 1918 to try to improve the health of pregnant mothers and children. Peter Walker is the one to ask about this - PETER! WHERE ARE YOU! youre wanted! Marjorie

Too old@ My grandfather was 36 when the war started and was killied in action in 1918, just over a month before the end of the was. he was then aged 40. David

David Sounds as though your ancester was already in the army, so would have been fighting in the 1 W war as he would not have been released whatever his age. Experience always counted. This also happened to my father in the 2 W War at 40. BUT the point here is that conscription was not around until 1916 and this particular person obviously had not volunteered. It is doubtful in 1916 that anyone over the age of 36 would have been considered for the front line of action initially, when there were so many young people of 18-25+ being called up. He may have paid the price of not volunteering in the early days, as we all know the story of the 'White Feathers'. The war was over by 1918 and they would have used all the young men they could find first, rather than enlist someone older with no experience. If he was suffering from some illness as Germaine suggested, that could have been another resaon for not being involved in the war. Janet

My ggrandfather was 40 when he fought in WW1 but, as Janet has said, he volunteered. Someone kindly managed to locate his records from Kew for me and although it doesn't tell me a lot - only that he volunteered and the regiments he was attached to - it gives me a physical description of him which was wonderful to read Lou

Thanks for all the replies. Yes it does sound that his age was the reason he wasn't there. I suppose with my other Grandad having exempyion cert. I presumed that every one would have been called up in 1914 like 1939 Germaine