Mole catcher with secret ways fails to evade call-up

A mole catcher with a “secret process” for killing the animals applied for exemption from military service, the Observer of 100 years ago reported.

The man’s case was heard by West Stirlingshire and Clackmannanshire Appeals Tribunal at which a large number of men asked not to be sent to the Front.

Mr HD McLellan, solicitor, who appeared for the mole catcher, said 54 landowners, factors and farmers had signed a petition stating the man had contracts with them for the destruction of moles.

They claimed it was in the national interest that the married father-ofthree should be allowed to continue his work.

If he was called up, the land would suffer from moles. The factor of one estate said, owing to the “mossy” nature of land at Port of Menteith District, a lot of damage would be caused to crops if the moles were not kept down.

It was said the man possessed a secret process for the destruction of moles, known only to himself and his brotherin-law.

However, there was laughter when Army representative Capt Motherwell said he had “never yet heard of a mole catcher that had not a secret process – and there are other mole catchers with secret processes who will be left if this man is taken away”.

Mr McLellan retorted that the man was the only mole catcher in the district.

Tribunal members refused the appeal but recommended the man not be called up for another month.