Teenage wood carter loses call-up appeal

A teenage wood carter, from Aberfoyle, lost his appeal against call-up, the Observer reported.

The case of Charles McIntyre, aged 19, who worked for John McGowan & Sons, Killearn, was heard by a Recruiting Tribunal for West Perthshire at Dunblane.

Solicitor Mr Alex Paterson, acting for the firm, said Mr McIntyre was one of their few remaining carters. Strong, young men were required for the firm’s work which involved supplying pitwood to two collieries. That work would be jeopardised if wood supplies were curtailed.

However, the military representative said the appeal was three weeks late in being lodged.

And he argued that Mr McIntyre was a“grade one man”, adding:“If the Army is not to get men like this, who is to fight? A carter is not essentially a skilled man and men of about 40 are being released for such work.”

The application was refused but call-up was delayed until March 14, 1918.

In a second case before the tribunal, Mr Ashworth, a manager of the Deanston Works, asked for William H Barrie, a carding tenter there, to be spared call up.

Mr Barrie was said to be engaged on urgent Government work and could not be replaced. The military representative agreed and granted exemption until June, 1918, when Mr Barrie would be eighteen and a half.