1. Military Tribunals as a source for local historians: the St Albans experience
Julie Moore
University of Hertfordshire
‘Everyday Lives in War’ First World War Engagement Centre

2. City of St Albans
Military Service Tribunal Register
Courtesy of Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Off Acc 1162

3. Figures based on an analysis of 1911 census
Industrial Profile
Sector
No. of companies
Approx. no. of employees
Headwear 10
921
Construction -
900
Printing 7
607
Clothing 2
448
Footwear
308
Silk work 1
148
Figures based on an analysis of 1911 census

4. The Straw Hat Industry E Day & Co factory, c.1914
Images courtesy of St Albans Museum

5. Figures based on an analysis of 1911 census
Industrial Profile
Sector
No. of companies
Approx. no. of employees
Headwear 10
921
Construction -
900
Printing 7
607
Clothing 2
448
Footwear
308
Silk work 1
148
Figures based on an analysis of 1911 census

6. Estimated number of men eligible for conscription in 1916 2,300
Applicants to the Military Services Tribunal
1,050

7. Whose Interest? Employer Gov’t Needs St Albans Tribunal Military
Avoiding Conscription: An Assessment of the St Albans Local Military Tribunal
October 2012
Whose Interest?
Employer
Gov’t
Needs
St Albans
Tribunal
Military
Individual
Copyright: Jon Mein

8. ‘National Interest’ test
“…that it was expedient in the national interests that the man should, instead of being employed in the military service, be engaged in other work in which he was habitually engaged…”
Military Service Act (1916) as clarified by LGB Circular R.36

9. ‘National Interest’ test
‘It covers not only services which minister directly to the prosecution of the war but also services which are essential to the country at the present time, whether, for instance, in the maintenance of the food supply or of the export trade’
MH 47/142/1, Circular relating to the Constitution, Functions and Procedure of Local Tribunals (HMSO, 1916), p. 5.

10. Straw Hat Blocker Statistics
Company
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
Day’s 31 7
≈3 
Slade 18 4 2 1 
Partridge Smith 10 8
Days:
10/2/1917: only 11 men left with 250 girls.
Applied for 22 men during the war. Only 3 (possibly 4) saw out the war, 2 of whom worked in the helmet dept and the ither was Alfred Day, the MD
Case of George and Arthyr Day: tribunalists left it to the brothers to chose which one to go.
Source: Herts Advertiser reports,

11. 6/7/1917: Sidney Page manager of helmet dept in certified occupation; Thomas Jones, foreman in the same – case deferred
These two and Alfred Day, the managing director of the company were the only applicants who saw out the war. Possibly Bertram Cook as well, Hat, cap and helmet blocker.
Part of the straw helmet production line at E. Day & Co, © IWM (Q 28672)

12. St. Albans & Hertfordshire Architectural & Archaeological Society
Website:
Twitter: @StAlbanspast

13. ‘Everyday Lives in War’ First World War Engagement Centre
Website:
Twitter: @FWWLives