In January 1916, conscription was introduced in order to obtain more front line troops for the trenches. As the war went on, such was the government's desperation to obtain more cannon fodder, the upper age limit was pushed up to 50! Some occupations were protected and companies (as well as the individuals concerned) could appeal conscription for their workers if they could prove that their work was vital. In November 1917, The Derbyshire Advertiser published an item titled "Belper Tribunal". This was a report into the military tribunals that had taken place to decide whether local workers should be sent for military service. This being Belper, a town dominated by the mills established by the Strutt family, a lot of the men in question were English Sewing Cotton Company employees. In fact, the military tribunal was chaired by Alderman G H Strutt - the mill owner himself! Perhaps this went in favour of some of the men, if he had a thorough understanding of what their wor...
