Tribunal turn down appeal

In Doune, villagers learned that a local hero was returning to the Front. Pte Robert Allison, wounded last year during the Battle of Loos, had been at home recuperating. Pioneer Duncan McAnish was also home on leave after training in England. The soldier was

A young man from Kippen district had his appeal against call- up turned down by the Stirling County tribunal.

Military representative Lt Motherwell, who opposed the appeal, said the man had originally described himself as a motor engineer before later claiming he was a market gardener and in business for himself.

Under conscription rules, the job of market gardener was considered a reserved occupation and the man escaped conscription for two months.

At the end of that period he was called up but allowed to return home after telling the recruiting officer he had lodged an application for exemption.

This was found to be untrue although he later submitted a claim for exemption, this time describing himself as “stud groom, horseman and engineman” – all three being reserved occupations.

At a local tribunal his claim on these grounds was refused and, in fact, his employer said the man was not wanted by him. In the opinion of the employer, he was a “fit subject to be a soldier”.

The employer said the main’s “real” occupation was tending two ponies, making gas at a mansion house and assisting with motor cars .

“He had been continuously employed by the same master for five years and was never off a day’s work for any market garden,” said the paper.

Having failed to convince a local tribunal of his case for exemption he lodged an appeal claiming he was a market gardener.

The garden he looked after was his mother’s and he had a brother who had been called up.

He insisted he was the only market gardener in the district but the appeal tribunal chairman said they had no reason to reverse the previous decision and rejected the appeal.

Meanwhile, in another case before the Stirling County Tribunal, a young carter from Balfron claimed exemption on the grounds he was looking after a contractor’s business formerly carried on by his deceased grandfather and then by his uncle who had joined the A&SH.