Military Service Tribunal appeals begin their work
Now began the serious business of sorting out the appeals against conscription. This is where government policy on compulsory military service met head-on with non-militarist Britain. During the time of the Derby Scheme, tribunals had been set up to sort out the men needed for ‘work of national importance’ from those needed to be soldiers in the Army. The military service tribunals inherited this mantle and now had to also consider applications over a wider range of criteria. However, the largest number of cases by far was still over issues of employment. Was a man doing work of ‘national importance’ and/ or was he doing ‘essential’ work? In many cases decisions were relatively clear-cut because the government issued lists of occupational positions which they considered to be ‘of national importance’. These were sometimes referred to as ‘reserved occupations’ or ‘starred occupations’. Small businesses were in a particularly difficult position as can be seen from the case of Fred Heyworth who was a toy dealer. If he was conscripted he faced the ruination of his business. Perhaps not surprisingly, his toy business was not considered to be ‘of national importance’ so Fred Heyworth had no grounds for exemption there. He also tried to argue that he was essential to his business. A ‘military representative’ (in this case R.M. Stansfield) attended the tribunals to represent the Army’s case and could be quite hardnosed about arguments such as this. He pointed out that Fred Heyworth’s partner in the business (his sister) would be capable of running it while he was away fighting for his country. Tribunal members carried enormous responsibility. They may not always have made the right decision and in some cases it is possible to see unfair prejudices at work. Nevertheless they had a fair degree of discretion. In some parts of the country it was even claimed they sided too much with the men putting in their appeals! In the case of Fred Heyworth he was granted two months grace to allow him to make alternative arrangements for his business, including time to train up his sister. Picture Magazine’ is advertising “Mahomed Osman. Haircutter and clean shaver.” I do not think he had grasped the complexities of English grammar. ‘Gentlemen’s throats cut with very sharp razors with great care and skill,’ probably brought a big smile in 1916 and 2016. Then Mr Bateson had conducted many prosecutions against people who fell foul of the lighting regulations. The boot was on the other foot as the unfortunate Mr Bateson failed to obscure the hall light and was fined 10s. cious beer output from 60 per cent last October to 48 per cent in 1916. England, however, was still deliberating. Public houses had two short periods daily and an advisory committee had proposed that the government take over breweries and public houses. Drink used up massive amounts of steamer space, consumed tons of food with more sugar than the army used, or enough to last the nation 80 days, so something had to be done. published a drawing entitled “Reported Missing” allegedly by Charles Edward Burton Bernard, a 2nd lieutenant in the West Yorkshire Regiment. The picture depicted a private wearing a sun helmet lying under a tree, without arms of any kind (rifle etc) clasping a bottle of rum in a drunken state. The proprietors of the Bystander, the editor and the artist were all charged under the Defence of the Realm Act with the allegation ‘that the cartoon was liable to prejudice recruiting and the discipline of His Majesty’s forces.’ The prosecution called it a “... a disgusting representation, without any humour. It is not even merely silly, because it is offensive... to a degree because it is over the signature of an officer of His Majesty’s army... and is a libel upon the forces of His Majesty.” The defence claimed that the inverted commas would have shown that the picture was not to be taken seriously. But they failed to convice, and the defendants were found guilty and fines were imposed on all three. The comment by Sir David Burnett that “It might have been humorous three years ago, but was a serious matter today”, showed that the authorities would not tolerate anything that slowed down recruitment. Born in Japan in 1890, Charles Bernard was an art student and served with the 10th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment in Gallipoli.