[The following has been written by Capt. B. S. Townroe (Private Secretary to the Director-General of Recruiting) in order to explain clearly, and in homely phrase, how the Local Tribunals will do their work.]
Henry stopped on his way from work, and read the poster, headed “Single Men First,” describing the group system introduced by the War Office.
He went home quickly and at tea said to his mother: “Do you know, mother, I shall really have to go this time. They are going to take all single men first. I would like to go as a volunteer.”
Mrs. Morris replied resignedly: “Very well, my dear, if you will, you will. I don’t see, though, that it is right to take a widow’s two sons. Still, if they want you to go and help beat the Kaiser, I suppose you must.” Mrs. Morris showed visible signs of tears, and Henry dropped the subject for the time being.
Henry that night could not get to sleep. His mind kept revolving over his attempts to join the Army since August 4th, 1914. since his brother, Robert, had enlisted, he had always wanted to join the local Territorials, but his mother, terrified at the idea of both her sons becoming soldiers, had always persuaded him that his place was in her stationer’s shop, and that drills at night would interfere with his work.
Then when war broke, out, he begged his mother to let him go with his old pals. She explained that business in the country had to be carried on by someone, and that he was doing his bit behind the counter as well as if he wore khaki. Henry rolled over on the other side of the bed, as he realised now what a lame excuse that had been. Still, he had been everything to his mother since his father died when he was three years old, and he had given way to her. For her sake, he had received the cold shoulder from Maggie. He rolled over on the other side, as he thought of those winter months when Maggie refused to speak to him on the grounds that he was a “little slacker.”
Then came Mr. Lloyd George’s demand for munition workers. After a great struggle with his mother he had persuaded her to allow him to leave the shop and return to his former work of varnish-making to which he had been apprenticed. His mother had agreed to engage Maggie to help in the shop.
Accordingly, in April, Henry went off to the Varnish Factory, and by October had assisted in the manufacture of many thousands of gallons of varnish which was used to cover high explosive shells.
Henry rolled over again as he thought of those hot summer months in the smell factory, and his qualms of conscience, as further friends joined the Army. At last, he decided to join the next day. With that decision he went to sleep.
He went to the recruiting office the following morning, was found medically fit, received his 2/9 pay, and was passed into Section B, Army Reserve. He was told that, as his age was 26 years and as he was a single man, he was in No. 9 group.
. . . . . . . . .
1916 had come. For three months, Henry had walked the streets, usually in Maggie’s company, proud of the armlet with the red crown displayed on his left arm. He was so proud of the armlet that when he wore his overcoat, he always transferred it so that it could be seen, and Maggie usually carefully adjusted it with the help of a safety-pin.
Then one day, as he passed the Post Office, he saw in the window a notice with the Royal Arms on the top, stating that in a few weeks’ time Group 9 would be called up for service with the Colours.
The time had come, and he was face to face with the great opportunity; he would have to leave his mother and fight for her and for the other mothers of Britain in the ranks of the Army. When he returned home he discussed the question with his mother whether he should appeal to the Local Tribunal to be postponed to a later group. She advised him to consult the Works Manger.
The following day, the Works Manager asked him whether he was willing to appeal, as the firm must have his consent before they could send in a claim that he was required for the manufacture of varnish. Henry said: “I am ready to do whatever I am told and go wherever I am wanted.”
“That is the right spirit,” said the Works Manager. “Well, I think you are helping your country better here than anywhere else, but it is not for me to say. It is for the representatives of the country sitting on the Local Tribunals.”
The employers, therefore, filled in a form. They stated that Henry was not only individually indispensable, but that they had been trying for six months to obtain others also to do similar work. They said they were solely engaged on the manufacture of varnish for shells, and that they had already sent over 40 per cent. of their men to the Army or Navy.
They were prepared to give half wages to any man who had enlisted under the group system, but asked that Henry should not be called up for several months. They stated further that they had just engaged six men invalided from the front as unfit for further service, and were training them to take the places of Henry and five other men.
The case came on one Wednesday evening. It was held in a room in the Town Hall. The late Mayor was in the chair. He knew Henry well, for he was a superintendent of the Sunday School which Henry had attended as a boy.
On his right sat Admiral Caroe, who lived at the Hall just outside the town. Next to him was Joe Bartlett, who had organised the great strike in 1911, and whose reputation for fiery recruiting speeches was well known throughout the whole of the country. Also sitting there were two members of the Local Town Council – one a Free Church minister, and the other a local shopkeeper.
Henry expected to have to make a speck and, as a matter of fact, had told his mother exactly what he intended to say. The Chairman, however, asked the military representative present to state why he did not agree with the claim.
Captain Balfour made the following statement: “I have talked this case over very carefully with my Advisory Committee. We fully understand how hard it would be for Mrs. Morris to have to give up her second son, but we wish to point out that with the dependent’s allowance and half wages from the weekly allowance always given her by her boy. Her shop is not dependent on her son, and she has now trained a girl assistant to take his place.
With regard to the claim made by the varnish makers, we have consulted a representative of that industry, and we have come to the conclusion that Henry Morris is not indispensable for any length of time – in fact, we understand that in a few weeks’ time it would be possible to replace him.
We, therefore, ask that he be postponed to a group which will probably be called up a little later. We would not urge this if the military necessity was not so great, as you are all aware.”
The Chairman then spoke. He said: “My tribunal has read carefully the requests set forth by Henry Morris and his employers, asking for him to be postponed for several months. We shall not need to trouble the appellant any further, as we have decided to postpone his calling up until Group 14.
In short, we have postponed his calling up for five groups. We hope that will be satisfactory to him, and will give time to his firm to find a substitute for him.”
This concluded his case. The Works Manager reported to the Managing Director that evening: “We shall have young Morris with us for some time. That will get over our difficulties.”
The Managing Director replied: “This is an excellent system. It leaves the decision not to the individual conscience or to the individual employer, but to the representatives of the Nation.”
Henry told his mother that night: “You don’t know, mother, what a relief it is to me to have to decide for myself whether I should go, but to know that I am just in the hands of my country, and am doing my bit wherever I am told to go.”
B. S. TOWNROE.
