Militia Enquiry.

[Red Tom]

Good morning folks, I have an ancestor attesting in 1902 for the Liverpool Regiment. His card shows attendance for every camp for the six year period, but I don't know if he ever saw 'active service' as it were.It may seem a daft question,but is it likely that he only attended annual training?
Any comments would be gratefully received.
Tom.

[andycand]

Hi

If you have his number check the WW1 Medal Rolls and Service Records, he may well have been called up when the war started.

Andy

[km1971]

Hi Tom

If you have his attestation papers from Findmypast - its series WO96 - and it does not mention him going to South Africa, then he would have only done an initial 7 weeks training on enlistment, followed by six summer camps of about 6-8 weeks each. As there was no general mobilization again until 1914 that is the only service he would have seen.

Militia Attestation Papers are unique in that they give the recruits address, and name and address of last employer. NCOs were sent to check, as it was a condition of joining that the recruit had lived in the county for at least 12 months. Ones from 1901/2 start to give next of kin.

While serving the Militia were paid the same as Regular soldiers. Because of the training it only suited men in casual work. Men in regular employment joined the Volunteers instead.

During the Boer War they added two regular battalions to the Liverpools. These replaced the Militia as 3rd and 4th Battalions, and the Militia became the 5th and 6th Battalions. After the war they reverted to 3rd and 4th.

Added... his enlistment would have only lasted until 1908. So he would not have been embodied for WW1, unless he joined something else. The Militia became the Special Reserve in 1908. They carried on with the Militia numbering scheme. The only thing that changed, apart from the name, was that the SR agreed on attestation to serve overseas.

Ken

[Red Tom]

Hi

If you have his number check the WW1 Medal Rolls and Service Records, he may well have been called up when the war started.

Andy

Thank you for that Andy.

[Red Tom]

Hi Tom

If you have his attestation papers from Findmypast - its series WO96 - and it does not mention him going to South Africa, then he would have only done an initial 7 weeks training on enlistment, followed by six summer camps of about 6-8 weeks each. As there was no general mobilization again until 1914 that is the only service he would have seen.

Militia Attestation Papers are unique in that they give the recruits address, and name and address of last employer. NCOs were sent to check, as it was a condition of joining that the recruit had lived in the county for at least 12 months. Ones from 1901/2 start to give next of kin.

While serving the Militia were paid the same as Regular soldiers. Because of the training it only suited men in casual work. Men in regular employment joined the Volunteers instead.

During the Boer War they added two regular battalions to the Liverpools. These replaced the Militia as 3rd and 4th Battalions, and the Militia became the 5th and 6th Battalions. After the war they reverted to 3rd and 4th.

Added... his enlistment would have only lasted until 1908. So he would not have been embodied for WW1, unless he joined something else. The Militia became the Special Reserve in 1908. They carried on with the Militia numbering scheme. The only thing that changed, apart from the name, was that the SR agreed on attestation to serve overseas.

Ken

Thank you for your very helpful reply Ken,once again you've helped me out.
My man did serve in WW1, but up to now I'm unsure as to which reg, possibly the King's, and Labour corps, and I'm hoping that one his children's birth certificates may give the regiment, then I can match one of several possible names I have to him-simple!!!                                                                  He tried to pull a fast one it seems, as he attested a second time in 1904 for a different outfit, but must have come unstuck, as he was awol from the first camp, and struck off as a deserter....

[km1971]

Must have been out of work. After the first year they were only guaranteed about £2.50 a year from the summer training. So about the same for another training on enlisting would have been tempting. The problem was having the NCOs checking up on recruits.

My GF like a lot of recruits joined the Militia first, before committing to 12 years as a Regular. He could have done that, but that meant a minimum of seven years full time, with five years as a reservist. Militiamen got a free discharge if they joined the Regulars. Otherwise it was £2 to purchase a discharge from the Militia, and £20 from the Regulars.

[Red Tom]

Must have been out of work. After the first year they were only guaranteed about £2.50 a year from the summer training. So about the same for another training on enlisting would have been tempting. The problem was having the NCOs checking up on recruits.

My GF like a lot of recruits joined the Militia first, before committing to 12 years as a Regular. He could have done that, but that meant a minimum of seven years full time, with five years as a reservist. Militiamen got a free discharge if they joined the Regulars. Otherwise it was £2 to purchase a discharge from the Militia, and £20 from the Regulars.

Ken,please accept my apologies for such a late reply to your last....I missed several and am just catching up.My initial post concerned my wife's maternal GF, however her other took the same route as yours and served in the regular army. Once again, thank you Ken for your help.
Regards, Tom.

[km1971]

No problem. If his WW1 service record survives it should give details of any previous service. Also worth checking the Silver War Badge records on Ancestry. These were given to men discharged before the end of WW1 - and into 1919 - and he would be getting close to 40 by then.

Post what you have if you want help looking for his WW1 service.

Ken