I know my grandfather was considered to be ex-army but he was also employed on the railway at some point close to the beginning of WW1. I want to know if he was considered "army" becuase of the railways role in the war Particularly the light railways.
2007-10-23 08:08:19 · 5 answers · asked by CHRISTINE M 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
He was from Lincolnshire, England
2007-10-25 08:15:33 · update #1
Interesting question...not sure, but I think that essential workers on the railways may well me considered reserved occupations as were miners Police etc.....does not mean to say they could not volunteer.
2007-10-23 08:11:54 · answer #1 · answered by Knownow't 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some Railway Employees were actually enlisted in the Military in Ww1 to run Military Supply trains in France & Belgium.
They were also used to move military supplies in the U.S.A. as well.
There was also a WW1 Unit known as the Czechoslovakian Legion, including Americans & British that kept a railway link open from Russia.See; http://www.wpi.edu/News/Transformations/2005Winter/timecapsule.html
2007-10-24 04:26:07 · answer #2 · answered by conranger1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My paternal grandfather was a locomotive driver for the London Midland Scottish Railway (LMS) and at the outbreak of WW1 he was not called up because of his job. I know this only because my dad, his son, told me so.
On the other hand, my maternal grandad was employed by the local quarry as an explosives expert. He set the dynamite for the three times daily "blasting" to produce granite. At the outbreak of WW1 he was called into the army and served in the Royal Engineers as an explosives expert for the duration of the war.
2007-10-23 15:22:52 · answer #3 · answered by richard b 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There were many reserved occupations in WW1 and 2.
railways, miners , farm workers, Police, hospital workers. dockers, school teachers, etc.
2007-10-23 16:40:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What country was he with?
2007-10-23 15:31:37 · answer #5 · answered by Chris 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋