Author Topic: British Army enlistment for a Russian national  (Read 869 times)

Offline pb_devon

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British Army enlistment for a Russian national
« on: Wednesday 21 November 18 14:05 GMT (UK) »
I am researching for a friend, and his grandfather was a Russian national, age 34 in 1914, resident in UK since 1893 and married in 1905 to a British lady with 2 children by 1914. He was employed as a Cabman. I have his naturalisation papers (in 1920), which states that he “was called to military service, appealed and was allowed 3 months exemption” (no date or reason for this is given). Then on 3 November 1917 he joined the 3rd Yorkshires.
Now two questions:
From May 1916 a married man would be called up. How could he have avoided conscription from May 1916 to November 1917, other than the 3 months exemption?
What was the position for foreign nationals and conscription in WW1?  The various on-line articles I’ve read make no reference to the position for non-British. 

Many thanks.

Offline jim1

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Re: British Army enlistment for a Russian national
« Reply #1 on: Wednesday 21 November 18 18:24 GMT (UK) »
He may have been called up & put in Reserve until required in Nov. 1917.
His age & the fact he had children may also have been a factor. Single men went first.
Russia was an ally so no problem with conscription.
A name might help.
Warks:Ashford;Cadby;Clarke;Clifford;Cooke Copage;Easthope;
Edmonds;Felton;Colledge;Lutwyche;Mander(s);May;Poole;Withers.
Staffs.Edmonds;Addison;Duffield;Webb;Fisher;Archer
Salop:Easthope,Eddowes,Hoorde,Oteley,Vernon,Talbot,De Neville.
Notts.Clarke;Redfearne;Treece.
Som.May;Perriman;Cox
India Kane;Felton;Cadby
London.Haysom.
Lancs.Gay.
Worcs.Coley;Mander;Sawyer.
Kings of Wessex & Scotland
Census information is Crown copyright,from
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

Offline lisalisa

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Re: British Army enlistment for a Russian national
« Reply #2 on: Wednesday 21 November 18 19:11 GMT (UK) »
A local newspaper may have details of tribunals regarding military service, one I've read has had details of urban and rural tribunals with names of the people and the reasons for exemptions.

Offline pb_devon

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Re: British Army enlistment for a Russian national
« Reply #3 on: Wednesday 21 November 18 21:30 GMT (UK) »
jim1
Harold/Harry Kwist of South Shields. I've the medal card and the one item from Anc***

lisalica
A search has produced many tribunals in the area, but his name has't come up.

Thanks both for your replies.


Offline ShaunJ

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Re: British Army enlistment for a Russian national
« Reply #4 on: Wednesday 21 November 18 21:42 GMT (UK) »
FindMyPast has this interesting item - special orders to proceed overseas on 5 April 1918 - including 48138 Pte H Kwist, 3rd Reserve Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment

https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBM/WO363-4/007280489/01036&parentid=GBM/WO363-4/SUPP/38682
UK Census info. Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline jim1

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Re: British Army enlistment for a Russian national
« Reply #5 on: Wednesday 21 November 18 21:51 GMT (UK) »
Transferred to the 13th. Batt.
Another interesting item is that the 13th. were posted to Russia Sept. 1918.
Warks:Ashford;Cadby;Clarke;Clifford;Cooke Copage;Easthope;
Edmonds;Felton;Colledge;Lutwyche;Mander(s);May;Poole;Withers.
Staffs.Edmonds;Addison;Duffield;Webb;Fisher;Archer
Salop:Easthope,Eddowes,Hoorde,Oteley,Vernon,Talbot,De Neville.
Notts.Clarke;Redfearne;Treece.
Som.May;Perriman;Cox
India Kane;Felton;Cadby
London.Haysom.
Lancs.Gay.
Worcs.Coley;Mander;Sawyer.
Kings of Wessex & Scotland
Census information is Crown copyright,from
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

Offline pb_devon

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Re: British Army enlistment for a Russian national
« Reply #6 on: Wednesday 21 November 18 21:54 GMT (UK) »
ShaunJ
You've exposed my failing memory! I meant FindMyPast, and I've got that item.  But thanks for looking.

I'm trying to understand the official position with a Russian at this point of WW1.


Offline jim1

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Re: British Army enlistment for a Russian national
« Reply #7 on: Wednesday 21 November 18 22:09 GMT (UK) »
The diary says that on the 13/4/18 the 13th. received 500 replacements so your man would have been one of these. The Batt. were at Strazeele at the time.
This was the beginning of the German Spring Offensive & nearly the end of the British Army.
Every man was thrown into it which eventually stopped the advance.
The Russian Intervention was an initiative to assist the White Russian forces against the Bolsheviks.
Britain was part of an international force put together by Churchill. For a variety of reasons it failed & Britain extricated itself in late 1919. Often referred to as Churchill's war or more aptly the forgotten war.
Warks:Ashford;Cadby;Clarke;Clifford;Cooke Copage;Easthope;
Edmonds;Felton;Colledge;Lutwyche;Mander(s);May;Poole;Withers.
Staffs.Edmonds;Addison;Duffield;Webb;Fisher;Archer
Salop:Easthope,Eddowes,Hoorde,Oteley,Vernon,Talbot,De Neville.
Notts.Clarke;Redfearne;Treece.
Som.May;Perriman;Cox
India Kane;Felton;Cadby
London.Haysom.
Lancs.Gay.
Worcs.Coley;Mander;Sawyer.
Kings of Wessex & Scotland
Census information is Crown copyright,from
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

Offline pb_devon

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Re: British Army enlistment for a Russian national
« Reply #8 on: Thursday 22 November 18 08:23 GMT (UK) »
Thank you jim1