Teen grocer‘was doing work of national importance’

An shopworker from Killearn had his future discussed by a county military tribunal 100 years ago this week.

National Service representative Capt Motherwell appealed against the exemption granted to John Morrison, assistant grocer and van man, Killearn.

The 19-year-old worked for a general merchant’s business run by the widow of the late Mr WG Morrison, Killearn.

He was passed fit for general service but granted by the County Tribunal exemption from call-up for six months.

Mr Quig, for Capt Motherwell, said the period should be reduced to three months, which would be sufficient time for the business to find a replacement.

Lawyer Mr WL Thomson said John Morrison’s elder brother joined the Colours at 17. He was, Mr Thomson believed, the first in Killearn to do so.

John would probably have followed on reaching the age of 18 but three employees of the business had been called up, explained the lawyer.

One of the three had been killed and another employee of the company, Mr Hannah, manager of the grain business, had been called up even though he was in a `low’ military category and previously given temporary exemption. This had left John Morrison to manage the business.

“Hannah had been doing work of national importance in the distribution of food, both for man and beast in West Stirlingshire, and he was now kicking his heels in an Army office in Blair gowrie,” said Mr Thomson.

Mr Quig acknowledged Mr Hannah was in the Blairgowrie office but said efforts would be made to return him to the business to enable John Morrison to join the Army.

However, the tribunal chairman said such arrangements should have been made before and refused the appeal.