Tough new line at call-up tribunal

A clothiers assistant with only one eye lost his appeal against call-up.

The 30-year-old married man sought exemption from military service on grounds of health when he appeared before Stirling Burgh Tribunal.

The man had lost his right eye but was passed for military service abroad when he underwent a medical at Stirling Castle.

Although his plea was dismissed, it was agreed that he would be allowed to appeal.

The chairman of the tribunal warned applicants that, given the state of the war, those who “got off a few months ago would not get off at the moment”.

He made the remark before hearing and application from a firm of ironmongers.

Seeking exemption from service were a married 34-year-old partner in the firm and a 29-year-old single man who worked at the store as a counter assistant.

Thirteen assistants and a partner from the ironmongers had already joined up and the 29-year-old sought exemption on grounds he was the only assistant left. Conditional exemption was granted to the partner, while the assistant was given one month’s leeway.

The partner remarked that it was “peculiar” that some firms could get conditional exemption for several staff but their application for the counter assistant had failed.

The chairman repeated that the military’s need for men was now greater than in the early years of the war.