• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

WW1 Class Call Up dates

  • Thread starter Thread starter Forward
  • Start date Start date
F

Forward

Guest
WW1 Class Call Up dates.

I’ve identified granddad (George King) if conscripted would have been in Class 6 due to being born in 1892.

The link states: A Public Proclamation was placed in prominent spots, advising the public the date on which a particular Class would begin call up.

Do any of you folks now where I can find the above Public Proclamation or the dates (giving the year & month) of each class call up?

Thanks

Ray

https://www.1914-1918.net/msa1916.html
 
From:https://www.1914-1918.net/msa1916.html

Men were allocated into a Class, which was connected with the year of their birth, and were notified that they would be called up by Class.

Class 1 was for those born in 1897. They were 18 years old. They were told they would not be called up until they were aged 19. Class 2 was for those born in 1896, Class 3 for 1895 and so on up to Class 23 for those born in 1875.

A Public Proclamation was placed in prominent spots, advising the public the date on which a particular Class would begin call up. This was deemed to be sufficient notice, but in additional generally each man received an individual notice. It was the individual's responsibility to be alert to such notices and to report himself for duty. There were penalties for not reporting and for inducing or assisting a reservist to absent himself.

The Groups for single men closed at midnight 1/2 March 1916 and from that time all legally eligible men not exempted were deemed to have passed into the army reserve. It was not necessary to attest these men but their basic details had to be entered on the enrolment form B.2513.
ACI 379 reminded Area commanders to provide medical facilities for the examinations necessary to complete enrolment. Men who failed the medical and enrolment were told they would not be needed again; those who passed were told they would have another medical when called up.

Men of Class 1 (that is, 18 year olds), once enrolled, were given the option of returning home or remaining with the Colours and undergoing special training until they were 19. (ACI 839, 18 April 1916)

Call up under the Derby Scheme began: Groups 2 to 5 were called up in the last two weeks of January 1916, and Groups 6 to 13 in February. The last single groups other than the 18 year-olds were called up in March. This last batch were called up in parallel to the first men to be summoned under conscription. The recruits were not necessarily posted to their local regiments and from this time one it is not wise to assume that a man would go into his local regiment.
 
Last edited:
So, Ray, your Granddad would have been called up in February 1916 according to the above.
 
Thanks Lloyd

My research came across that which took me along many other paths; I must say ancestry leads you to many areas, quite absorbing.

I read that link as applying to those who registered under the Derby scheme (Volunteers), which granddad could off been. However, if he was conscripted then it would have been as you confirm from February 1916 – but actually what month ( Feb or some later month?) was Class 6 called up is what I’m trying to found out.

My overall aim is to see if Granddad joined whilst in Abergavenny (first child Feb 1915) or in Birmingham (second child July 1917).

When I next go to the library I will do a WW1 pension search. If I can’t find granddad had a pension can I take it he was not a volunteer?

Thanks

Ray
 
There are 785 'George King' entries in the medals records. Do you know anything about his service career, a Regiment or his number perhaps? Have any medal survived - they have the numbers on. Date of Birth and addresses lived at are not on the database.
 
Lloyd, Alf, brummie nick, thanks

Terry and Alf gave a lot of help on this topic
https://forum.birminghamhistory.co.uk/showthread.php?t=15326

From that topic:

My input “From Absent voter’s records 1918 I’ve found my granddad Pte 47917 W R B Mon Reg,”

Terry “You did not give your grandfather's name. Checking the Medal Index Cards on Ancestry I found a George king, Would this be him ? If so then I have attached his MIC. As you can see Monmouthshire Regt and Kings Shropshire light Infantry.”

Both 1918 absent voters giving 47917 and Terry’s find match to the right George King

It’s the above which got me interested in finding the actual month he joined or was called up. The birth date was how I arrived at Class 6.

If it helps date of birth was 13th March 1892, Pencoyd, Ross, Herefordshire.
In 1914 he married in Abergavenny.

We have no medals or photos.

Thanks

Ray
 
Back
Top