大象传媒

HS2 9PN

A rare archive preserved in the National Records of Scotland in Edinburgh provides a fascinating insight into the impact of the war at home. Cathy Macdonald meets Bruno Longmore, Head of Government Records Branch in Edinburgh.

Under the Military Service Act 1916, all adult males aged 18-41 had to register for military service unless they possessed a certificate of exemption. From 1916 men seeking exemption could apply to their local military tribunals. Any who were refused had a right of appeal. These WWI records were considered so sensitive that in 1921 the Ministry of Health ordered all papers to be destroyed. Fortunately, almost 6,400 from the Lothian and Peebles appeal tribunal were kept as a sample for Scotland and are now preserved in the National Records of Scotland in Edinburgh along with another 鈥渃hance鈥� survival 鈥� more than 200 records from Stornoway Sheriff Court.

Malcolm Martin, a shepherd who had returned from Argentina where he was working, and was on Lewis when the Military Service Act was passed. He applied for absolute exemption on grounds of serious hardship, but did not appear in court, stating that he 鈥榟ad nothing further to add鈥� to his appeal. His appeal was refused. He subsequently drowned in the sinking of the HMY lolaire on 1 January 1919.

Image Copyright: National Records of Scotland, SC33/62/1/34. Crown copyright 2011

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