Overlap of the Derby Scheme with conscription

[MacGrigor]

Hello,

I’ve been looking around for an answer, but can’t find anything firm or much otherwise. The Long, Long Trail lists the call-up dates of the groups, with groups 2-13 called up before the Military Service Act took force. Then, I’ve read all men meeting the requirements were assigned to the Army Reserve, until they were mobilised and could prove exemption etc. I read men, like in the groups system, were assigned a class based on birth year.

My question is, how did mobilisation then happen? Were groups and classes operating simultaneously? Were groups in a different part of the Army Reserve? I read all the groups were in Section B Army Reserve. I also can’t find any answer to when the classes were called up, other than from the 2nd of March, once the Act was in effect.

I’d appreciate any help!

Adam

[hanes teulu]

1916 Act  https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1916/104/pdfs/ukpga_19160104_en.pdf

Doesn't answer your question how it was implemented but defines the status of all those eligible from the due date.
I think I spotted that the the Royal Navy had "first pick"?

[jim1]

Men were mobilised where & when required.
Single men A1 fit would be the first to go.
There was no choice which Regt. they went into, that ended with the Derby scheme.
Some men would have been mobilised quite quickly while others may have been in reserve for months.
So it wasn't a case of mobilising a whole class or group at the same time but that would be the pool they were drawn from.
Sect. B Reservists were men who had previous service as regulars & were serving out their reserve period. These men were in the main recalled to their Battalions at the outbreak of war.
They are not to be confused with Cat. B (special) Reservists.
I don't know if this answers your question.

[MacGrigor]

It does in part, that whole groups weren’t called up en masse like various online sources state. You also put that men in Section B had previously been regulars, while the online sources state that men who attested rather than enlisted under the Derby Scheme were assigned straight to Section B. Thanks for clearing it up!

[jim1]

It depends on what you mean by en masse.
The whole qualifying group weren't called up at the same time but large numbers from it would have been.