Miitia Expert

[RATTY]

Is it usual to attest in 2 different areas for the Militia?

What  reason for this could there be?

[HORT]

Sorry but I am not sure what you mean.

 

[penury]

@RATTYPosted 9 hours ago

yes but not at the same time ...an example is someone serves in one branch of the armed forces/military lets say the Royal Navy then after getting demobbed or finishing their term of service would then join the merchant navy .. a relative did this at the end of WWII.

another would be someone in a branch of the army (end of service), then moves to air force, then to navy.

another example ... it's possible for someone to be serving in the marines then temporarily for a short period to be assigned to Navy or Air force depending on their skill speciality/job classification.. I suppose this would be as close to serving in two branches of the military at the same time

 

 

Edited November 13 by penury

[RATTY]

Well, he attested at liverpool in the South Lancs in July 1902 for 49 days turned up in January but failed to return for training in May, then attested at Wigan in that December for one year in the south lancs fusiliers. He returned in 1904 and 1905. He did 2 more years  service with bad record later then joined the merchant navy for years both before the war and during.

Were they paid for service or get some other benefit, was he just finding the best fit? I don't know much about militia except that you could do your fathers service for him.

[Big_Jeff_Leo]

Generally speaking you recieved a gratuity for signing on and then another payment on finishing your training. After one years service you then recieved a "bounty". There was also Mess payments that covered "expenses" whilst on Duty. 

If you stayed in without a break then you would not get the first two payments!

Fit men with previous service where also a premium and readily excepted in most cases. 

What you need to remember is that annual quotas on recruitment were rarely ever met,  both nationally and by individual Unit. 

[RATTY]

Hmmm! One of his entries says mess fees paid or something like that, 

[Big_Jeff_Leo]

At one point they had to put a cap on Mess Fees as people where taking advantage, particularly with the drinking.

Edited November 15 by Big_Jeff_Leo

[penury]

@Big_Jeff_Leo^^^ really good information.

expanding on that, goes wayyy back even further, not to be confused with today's UK media when there were *Press Gangs*, ... right up to the 20th century recruiting able bodied men.

Press Gangs

"The Acts offered a financial bounty or reward to men who enlisted for limited periods – in 1757 the sum was £3. They also gave powers to magistrates to press unemployed, but otherwise able-bodied, men" 

[RATTY]

I don't think that was the reason though, seems like he stumped for the South Lancs did a few years of a 12 year contract but he was let go because of a crime, did 2 months in cells, lost all pay. Anyway he apparently loved the merchant navy, signed back on during 2nd world war. Was it illegal to sign up for two Militia  places?

[Big_Jeff_Leo]

No, they where in competition to get the specified recruitment targets...........few ever did.

Its a bit like in WW1,........... How old are you lad?, 19 Sgt, OK Sign here.....really he was only 17.

Or how old are you?........... 36 Sgt.  OK You will need to have the medical but he was really 49. 

They needed the men. 

[RATTY]

Ok thanks