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Cheltonians volunteered, and were later
conscripted, to serve in all the Armed Services during the Great War.
At the outbreak of war many
rushed to the Recruitment Office at the Drill Hall in North Street and
later to a central recruiting point in Great Western Road, to enlist in the Regulars, the Territorials or the New Army.
Over the following 4 years some signed up for service in the Royal Navy and,
from 1st April 1918, for the Royal Air Force.
Voluntary enlistment was
encouraged and The Derby Group System of Registration was started in
October 1915 which "earmarked" single and married volunteers
for later enlistment when the
Army Training Organisation could take
them. Due to the constant demand for manpower conscription
was authorised by Parliament in May 1916 in the National Service
Act. By this time, some 4,000 Cheltonians had already
enlisted.
Those conscripted could state a
preference of Service and Regiment, but there was no guarantee whatever
that this would be achieved. It will be seen that after
conscription Cheltonians served in all Regiments and Corps of the Army
and on return to duty from sickness or wounds Cheltonians originally serving with
locally raised units may have found themselves transferred to other
Regiments and Corps.
Many Cheltonians emigrated to
Commonwealth/Empire countries prior to 1914 and enlisted into the forces of that country at the
outbreak or during the Great War and many made the ultimate sacrifice
whilst serving in the forces of the country they emigrated to, including 22
professional officers serving with the Indian Army.
Listed below are the Services,
Regiments and Corps in which Cheltonians who are commemorated on local
War Memorials were serving when they were
killed in action, died of battle wounds or of illness or accident, or,
if they were civilians at the time of death, the last Service, Regiment
or Corps they served in prior to their death.
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