WW1 Occupations

[DebbieDee]

Hi

I have posted this on the Armed Forces board but I think it might have more chance of getting an answer here. 

I have a death cert for my grandmother's twin sister who died age 3 in 1918.  In the Occupation section it says

"Daughter of James Assender Royal Air Force (Colliery Haulier)"

I am curious to know whether this just means Colliery Haulier was my great grandad's usual occupation before the war  (it was in 1901).  There is no entry for him in the WW1 medals list so I am assuming he was non-combatant but I am wondering if he would have continued with his usual job during the war. 

Does anyone know if there were 'reserved occupations' in WW1? 

It does seem strange though if he was in the RAF and working underground.   

I am trying to find out more about my great grandmother's life and whether my great grandfather was at home during the war. 

Any thoughts anyone?

Debbie

[Emjaybee]

http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/GREATWAR/2002-05/1022670919
 The above link gave the following extract -

And there is another problem - many men who did qualify for OWS exemption
did in fact enlist - there is plenty of evidence in the MUN papers that this
caused problems in coal-mining, especially, but also in munitions
manufacture, general engineering, and farm work - the last three being
off-set rather by the huge and rapid increase in the numbers of women going
into manufacturing jobs (much to the annoyance of the Trades Unions -
another favourite subject in the MUN files !).

You could do worse than check the full content of this site, maybe a posting here would help.

Good luck,  Mike

[DebbieDee]

Thanks Mike,

That could well explain it.  I remember my Dad saying his grandfather hated working down the mines.  My great grandfather grew up in rural Herefordshire/Monmouthshire and the family moved to Abertillery presumably in search of work.  I can quite see why he would have joined up asap.

Debbie