world war two

[keri_r]

what were the reasons for not joining the forces in the UK during World War Two?

[andy-hughes]

There were a number of 'reserved' occupations - people who's jobs were deemed necessary at home rather than away with the troops. Some doctors, scientists, factory workers, miners, and so on would be kept back to ensure that services necessary to the war effort were maintained. A number of jobs normally done by men were taken over by women when the men were drafted - particularly factory workers in munitions factories.

[Drusilla1S]

The attached site about the 'Bevin Boys' is very interesting. In 1943, it was finally realised that sending miners to the front had been a short sighted idea as miners were necessary for the war effort at home.

Many young men who were called up were sent to the mines rather than the front lines after this date.

The Bevin Boys have only recently had their contribution to the war effort officially recognised and honoured.

[Drusilla1S]

The attached site:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/61/ a7319261.shtml

Sorry about that.

[n00dles]

My husband was a Bevin boy, called to duty on his eighteen birthday, whilst working at Brown's Hotel, Piccadilly.

He was sent to Seaham Harbour, Co Durham. They were not allowed to work at the coal face as they could not replace an experienced miner. They worked at the coal shaft where the linked tubs would be sent by the miners who had hewed the coal in-bye. Two lines of tubs to be pushed (6 tubs at a time) into the (2) lifts, when the bell was rung for more loads to go in. As the returned lift came back and more tubs were pushed in the empty ones would be pushed out of opposite doors.

[MustafaTickl]

There were people known as Conscientious Objectors (COs). They were represented by the Central Board for Conscientious Objectors and the Pacifist Service Bureau. . About 60,000 men and 1,000 women applied for exemption from armed service. Nearly 3,000 were given unconditional exemption. Around 18,000 were turned down altogether as not 'genuine'. The remainder were either allowed exemption conditional on doing alternative civilian work, or put on the military service register as non-combatants. Of the COs who took up non-combatant duties, 6,766 ended up in the Non-Combatant Corps (NCC). This was set up in August 1940. It was divided into 14 companies mostly commanded by army veterans or reservists; 465 of these COs volunteered to specialise in bomb disposal. Others worked in army-run medical units or on other projects 'not involving the handling of military material of an aggressive nature'. Civilian work regarded by tribunals as most useful was agriculture or forestry, hospital work, and social service; towards the end of the war coal mining was added to the list. Civil defence was also favoured by tribunals, but a number of COs resisted it because of its closeness to military activity. For some COs alternative civilian service meant being ordered to stay in their present posts (for example, in education, scientific research or on the land), but many COs were made to work away from home, so that they made some sacrifice, as fighting men did. Each conscript woman was given the choice between the women's military services (no use of any 'lethal weapon' without her written consent), civilian defence, or work in industry, often in armaments factories. By the end of the war, about 5,000 men and 500 women had been charged with offences to do with conscientious objection, and most of them were sent to prison. A further 1,000 or more were court-martialled and given prison sentences for refusing to obey military orders.

18:08 Sun 09th Jul 2006

[shammydodger]

Because you were German?

[Catso]

You could have been Swedish, Swiss or any of the many other nationalities that were officially neutral.

Wasn't it true that technically, after the fall of France, even the French shouldn't have been fighting, as their country had already surrendered to the Axis?

Also, although it seems a bit uncharitable to mention it, cowardice sounds a very good reason.

I believe certified lunatics weren't allowed in the forces (which seems a little ironic, looking back at it). Neither were some convicted criminals, I believe. Of course the medically unfit were exempt from conscription, but could volunteer for suitable auxilliary duties.

In the UK, anyway, you couldn't join up if you were an enemy national, in fact you were locked up. (Blatent, bigoted racism - 'You're german, you're bad'. I'm surprised we're not getting retrospective claims for this.)

[spudqueen]

My uncle was a conscientious objector during World War II and he was imprisoned, serving time in both Strangeways and Walton jails. His brother joined the army and was killed in Burma by the Japanese.