Coach boss avoids call-up to forces

A Thornhill businessman asked to be spared military service as he was doing work of national importance.

William Ferguson, proprietor of the village’s Commercial Hotel, was 45 and classed grade two for Army service.

West Perthshire Recruiting Tribunal was told Mr Ferguson had an extensive hiring business and ran two coaches between Thornhill and Doune, connecting with trains going north and south from Doune.

The coaches were run in association with the railway company and served a wide area to the south and west of Doune.

He also ran a coach from Thornhill to Stirling on market days and conveyed those requiring medical treatment to the nearest doctor, at Doune, and to Stirling Royal Infirmary.

Mr Ferguson had a motor which was used by a doctor and farmed seven acres of land.

Tribunal members agreed he was doing valuable work for the nation and he was granted exemption until March 18, 1919.

In another case Mr Carnegie, Stronvar, Balquhidder, applied for the exemption of his 36-year-old valet David Hamilton, a married man who had been classed grade C in terms of his fitness for Army life.

Solicitor Donald McLaren said the valet was doing work of a medical and nursing character.

Without elaborating further, Mr McLaren said “in view of what Mr Carnegie had done” he should be allowed to retain the valet’s services.

The national service representative acknowledged that losing the valet would be difficult for Mr Carnegie but others had been forced to give up their servants.

Temporary exemption was allowed until March 18, 1919.

In a similar case Mr Spencer, Glassingall, Dunblane, wanted his chauffeur and electrician Robert Maxwell to be exempted from callup.

Tribunal members were told Mr Spencer was engaged in work of national importance, involving transport, with the government. It required him to go from home every day and often on Sunday.

It was therefore essential, it was claimed, that a driver should be retained for the purpose of his business.

He was allowed 90 gallons of petrol a month for his work, which included trips to all parts of the country and featured all kinds of government transport, notably with the United States Government.

The national service representative said others were employing female drivers and Mr Maxwell would be of more value to the Army.

Mr Spencer added that Mr Maxwell also looked after his electrical plant and he required a skilled man to service his two cars.

Mr Maxwell was allowed six months’ temporary exemption.