The changing scope of Conscription

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On the 27 January 1916 the Military Service Act came into force in Great Britain and conscription, to replace the 1915 Derby scheme of voluntary recruitment, was introduced on 2 March 1916 . All men between the ages of 18 to 41 were automatically conscripted and liable to be called-up for service unless they were; married (or widowed with children), a time expired serviceman, an ordained minister of religion or employed in one of a number of occupations certified by Government Departments for exemption because it was Work of National Importance.

Men who agreed to be called up were said to have ‘attested’ but those objecting to conscription were entitled to apply for an exemption from military service to a Local Military Service Tribunal. Apart from the certified occupations, there were seven grounds for exemption, one of which was conscience.

Within four months, a second version of the Act was passed in May 2016 in response to a High Court ruling that determined that conscientious objectors could only be given an exemption from combatant service. This second version of the Act also enabled the War Office in London to extend the service of time-expired servicemen and brought within the terms of the Act all men – regardless of marital status – from the ages of 18 to 41.  Tribunals also gained the right to re-examine men previously declared medically unfit for service.

In April 1917, a third version of the Act extended the scope of the men subject to conscription.  Home Service Territorials were to be examined with a view to drafting such men into service abroad.  Men who had left military service on account of wounds or ill-health were to be re-examined to determine whether they were fit to resume service; and a revised list of certified or reserved occupations was published.

A fourth version of the Act was passed in January 1918.  This enabled the government to quash all exemptions from military service on occupational grounds at its own discretion; and where exemptions from service had been withdrawn the standard two month grace period was abolished.

Three months later, in April 1918, a fifth version of the Act was published.  Its most notable provision extended age eligibility so that men aged from 17 to 51 could be called up.  In addition the act was, for the first time, to be applied to men in Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man (although the policy was never actually implemented in Ireland).

Conscription was extended until 1920 to enable the army to deal with continuing trouble spots in the Empire and parts of Europe.  The military service Acts were no repealed until 1927. As long as the Military Service Acts were enforced, all men who were liable for service under the Acts who were not remaining with the colours in the regular army; or who had not been permanently discharged; or who were not on a Special Reserve or Territorial Force Reserve engagement were discharged into Class Z Army Reserve and liable to recall in the event of a grave national emergency.

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