On 5 December Clements Hall Local History Group host a training workshop in York. Introduction of conscription in Britain 100 years ago affected many men and their families in Yorkshire localities and beyond. However, men were allowed to appeal for a temporary exemption or, in special circumstances, for permanent exemption, on grounds of fitness or special family circumstances. Some were more valuable in jobs in Britain. The Act also allowed an appeal based on conscientious objection to fighting.
This new resource will reveal stories of local men:
How were personal decisions shaped by religious, political and voluntary organisations, and by the local press?
What do applications for exemption from conscription tell us about local employment, business and trade at the time?
How can we explain different views towards conscription within families?
How does the Yorkshire experience compare with other counties?
The workshop is relevant to local and family history groups, voluntary organisations and individuals with an interest in this topic, and Yorkshire First World War projects. We will share a range of interesting examples, and explore how local projects investigate and publicise their findings.
There will be speakers from North Yorkshire County Record Office; Everyday Lives at War, University of Hertfordshire; York Quakers; Clements Hall Local History Group; and Explore York Libraries and Archives.
Please see our website for details, including a booking form.
