Call-up put on hold

A Strathblane innkeeper was successful in a bid to challenge a move to lift his exemption from military service, the Observer reported

Thomas Anderson, of Netherton, had been told he would have to join up but in an appeal to Stirling Tribunal he explained he had been exempted two years earlier.

During that time he had been doing“work of national importance”as well as running his own business.

Mr Anderson said he had worked for a number of farmers , carried out jobs around the neighbourhood and been employed at Glasgow CorporationWaterworks.

He had four brothers serving in the Army: two in France, one in Asia and another at that time in England. A fifth was in the Army Reserve and a sixth was working on his father’s farm.

Mr Anderson, a 33-year-old dad-of-two, said his wife knew little about his inn-keeping business and it would be difficult to find men to take it over if he was called up.

“It would be a hardship to take me away,”said Mr Anderson.“But if any of my brothers are killed or disabled, I am quite willing to take his place in the Army.”

There was laughter in the tribunal when, in response to a question about his business, Mr Anderson suggested that those who frequented his inn were the“class of people who liked to (cause) disturbances”.

He said his turnover was between £800 and £900 a year and he paid £40 rent.

The National Service Representative admitted Mr Anderson had been doing“useful work”in his spare time but said as far as the Army was concerned he was “grade one” and his business not of national importance. He urged the tribunal to refuse the appeal.

Mr Anderson replied that his was a one-man concern and his wife would have to neglect their children if she was left to look after it.

The tribunal said they were prepared to grant him a further period of exemption but urged him to make arrangements for someone to take on the business if he had to do military service.

“You will likely have to go, Mr Anderson,”said the tribunal chairman.“But meantime we will grant you three months exemption till we see what happens.”