Military Service Tribunals facts for kids

Military Service Tribunals were special groups set up during World War I in Britain. Their main job was to listen to people who wanted to be excused from joining the British Army. This was when the country started using conscription, meaning men were required to join the army.

These tribunals were first suggested as part of the Derby Scheme in 1915. Later, they became official by law with the Military Service Act 1916, which made conscription a rule. Even though they didn't recruit soldiers directly, these tribunals played a very important part in how conscription worked.

What Were Tribunals?

During World War I, Britain needed many soldiers. To make sure enough men joined, the government introduced 'conscription' in 1916. This meant that men of a certain age had to join the army, even if they didn't want to.

However, some men had good reasons why they couldn't or shouldn't serve. This is where the Military Service Tribunals came in. They were local committees made up of people from the community. Their job was to listen to these reasons and decide if a man could be excused from joining the army.

Different Types of Tribunals

There were many tribunals across Britain, working at different levels:

• Local Tribunals: There were 2,086 of these. They were set up by local councils in towns and rural areas. These were the first places men went to ask for an exemption.
• County Appeal Tribunals: If a man wasn't happy with the decision from his local tribunal, he could appeal. There were 83 of these appeal tribunals, set up by county councils. They would review the case again.
• Central Tribunal: This was the highest court of appeal, located in Westminster in London. It only heard very difficult cases that could set an example for other tribunals. The Appeal Tribunals decided which cases went to the Central Tribunal.

Why Men Applied for Exemption

Most of the work done by these tribunals involved everyday life and business. Men could apply for an exemption for several reasons:

• Important Work: If their job was very important for the country, like working in farming or factories that made war supplies.
• Family or Business Hardship: If joining the army would cause serious problems for their family or their business. For example, if they were the only person earning money for their family.
• Medical Reasons: If they were not healthy enough to be a soldier.
• Conscientious Objection: If their personal beliefs, often religious, meant they could not fight in a war.

Conscientious Objectors

Military Service Tribunals are often remembered for how they treated conscientious objectors. These were men who refused to fight because of their strong beliefs. At the time, some people thought the tribunals were too easy on these cases. However, only about two percent of all applications were from conscientious objectors.

After the war, the stories of conscientious objectors became more well-known. It became clear that tribunals were often very strict and harsh towards them.

How Many Applied?

A huge number of men applied to the tribunals. By June 1916, about 748,587 men had asked for an exemption. Around the same time, about 770,000 men joined the army.

Most men who applied were given some kind of exemption. Often, these were temporary, lasting a few weeks or up to six months. Sometimes, the exemption was conditional. This meant it would last only if their situation at home or work remained serious enough to keep them out of the army.

By October 1916, over 1.1 million men across the country either had an exemption or were waiting for a decision. By May 1917, this number had dropped to 780,000 exempt and 110,000 waiting. At this point, there were also 1.8 million men who were excused by the government because they worked in important war industries. Together, these exemptions covered more men than were fighting overseas in the British Army.

Joining the Volunteer Training Corps

Some men were given an exemption on one condition: they had to join the Volunteer Training Corps. This group offered part-time training and helped with home defense duties. By February 1918, tribunals had directed 101,000 men to join this Corps.