Genealogy Chat

Does anyone know whether flat feet would have been a medical reason for a man not to have been accepted for the Army in WW1? My grandfather (who used to walk as though he might have had flat feet!) was born in 1877 and TV films recently about WW1 have had me wondering why he was not conscripted. He was married, a cab driver (hardly an essential service), and lived in Greenwich. I believe married men did not have to go initially but that was later ignored, and age limits extended as they got more and more desperate for replacements. I'm sure I would have heard if he HAD been in the Army. My mother used to mention the Woolwich Arsenal but I don't remember in what connection. Has anyone any ideas?

I believe flat feet were a reason, but there could have been all kinds of medical conditions which prevented him from being called up - TB/hernia to name a couple. He might have been in a reserved occupation, meaning he was doing valuable war work anyway. He may have been driving a cab for a company as opposed to ferrying people - or he might have been ferrying important people! Or he could have been a conscientious objector. nell

Found this ' Some people were exempt, such as men in jobs which were vital to war industries (reserved occupations). Anyone called up could appeal and have his case heard by a tribunal. Tribunals could allow men to avoid service on grounds of health, but also for ****family reasons or a range of other factors***. Tribunals also dealt with conscientious objectors. ' My ***. from www.learningcurve.gov.uk/britain1906to1918/g5/background.htm nell

Christine As far as I know it did then and it still does today. BIL applied to join the Army in the 1980s and was rejected because he has flat feet. Joy

Christine, In WW2 my uncle served as a motor cyclist despatch rider because he had flat feet and was rejected for combat duties., so perhaps your chap played a similar role, especially if he could drive? Jay

If he was of a more mature age and had disabilities he may have worked in the munitions factory at Woolwich arsenal to do his bit?

Slightly off topic, but during conscription for WW1, the health of the men who were conscripted was so poor that upto one third of them were rejected. (Underweight, undernourished, undersized, eye, teeth and ear problems etc) I believe the health standard was lowered later in the War because of the serious loss of troops. The scandal, at the time, of upto one third of British men failing to meet Army Health Standards, led eventually to the setting up of the National Health Service, free school milk, school dinners and ante-natal care for pregant women. Olde Crone

In the Likely Lads Bob and Terry tried to join up together but Bob was rejected because of his flat feet... Sheila

Am I the only one that finds it deeply ironic that in order to be maimed, blinded and/or killed you have to be 100% fit? nell

I have Flat Feet,and did 2 years National Service,as a Butcher in the RASC Bob

Nell - you missed the point! Fighting men have to be in A1 condition, so that they can march endlessly for days carrying a 20k pack on their backs, through mud water and slime, until they get to the place where they can be Killed. Olde Crone

Yes ironic Nell, isnt it. I would add my son was hoping to join the RAF - he had flat feet but walked 25 miles a day in full uniform and a 25kg back kitback in the 2 hottest days of summer when he was 16 in the ATC. The medics were amazed he was only one in the squad without one blister!