Russian subject of call-up appeal

Members of a Recruiting Tribunal discussed the call-up case of a Russian living in the Hillfoots, the Observer reported.

The National Service Representative submitted an appeal against exemption granted to William Nicholls, cabinetmaker, 104 Stirling Street, Alva. He was working for Messrs Angus and Co, furniture manufacturers, Menstrie.

A solicitor said the man was a Russian subject, and there was laughter in the tribunal when he added: “He is known in Menstrie and Alva as William Nicholls because people there could not pronounce his right name.”

There was more laughter when the lawyer was asked by the tribunal chairman how Mr Nicholls came to have that name.

“The first name of the respondent’s father was Nicholas and he took the name Nicholls,” added the lawyer. “His proper name is Vaselle Zaboloktie.”

No decision on the appeal was made and the case was continued for further inquiry.

Tribunal members also considered an application from the military for a review of a decision made in June, 1917, granting conditional exemption to John Gilvear, dairy farmer, Laurencecroft, Stirling.

Exemption had been granted on grounds Mr Gilvear’s presence was necessary for the operation of the business.

However, it had come to the attention of the military that Mr Gilvear had been absent from the business for a period of three months and it had “successfully carried on in his absence”.

A lawyer for Mr Gilvear said he had been away from business for circumstances outwith his control and had made special arrangements to ensure the operation continued normally.

The lawyer said were Mr Gilvear be taken away to the Army, his herd of dairy cows would have to be dispersed, adding to the acute shortage of milk in Stirling at that time. Mr Gilvear had increased by between 50 and 70 gallons the supply of milk from the dairy. Tribunal members granted the application for a review and recalled the decision to grant conditional exemption to Mr Gilvear.

And the tribunal further considered an application from the military for an appeal against the decision to grant temporary exemption from call-up to Mr David Tweedie, Bandeath Cottages, Fallin, who worked for Archibald Russell Ltd, Polmaise Quarry.

Mr Tweedie had the job of driving miners between Stirling and Fallin but the military said the exemption for the 30-year-old, classed grade A for Army service, could no longer be justified.

He had since left the employment of Messrs Russell and had gone to live in Glasgow. The appeal was sustained.