Stirling-based Russians ask to be excused Army service

Three Russian subjects appeared before Stirling Burgh Tribunal seeking exemption from military service.

It was stated that if the men were called up, they had the option of joining either the British or Russian Army.

The first applicant was a 37 year-old father-of-five who had been a British resident for 17 years and had lived in Stirling for seven years.

He was a dealer in furniture, napery (household linen) and jewellery, etc, and had £2000 worth of stock and trade debts of £1800.

He asked to be excused service as his business was a one-man operation, and he had some years earlier almost been hospitalised with rheumatic fever.

He was classed C2 which meant he was able to stand service in garrisons at home.

The second Russian, a 37 year-old father-of-three, had been in business for 12 years and had £2000 of stock in hand.

It was argued he would suffer serious hardship if he was called up as the business could not be sold.

He was classed as C1 and also able to carry out Home Front guard duties,

The third applicant was a 39 year-old father-of-seven whose wife was in “delicate health”.

Tribunal members granted conditional exemption in all three cases considered.

Stirling Co-op applied for exemption on behalf of two bakers, one of whom had already served in the Army but had been discharged from service.

The tribunal allowed exemption for the ex-Army man but turned down the other man’s request.

He was to join up the following month.

An attendant at Stirling’s Broad Street Baths claimed for exemption on grounds that he was the sole support for his mother and sister and had previously been in the Army for four months but was later discharged having several times being in hospital.

Conditional exemption was granted to the applicant for the reasons cited.

Attendant at Stirling’s Broad St baths claimed sole support . . .