Genealogy Chat

Does anyone know why someone would move to Woodbridge in Suffolk in about 1917? My great grandfather moved there with his wife a year after marrying in Liverpool and then had 2 sons there in 1917 and 1919. They came back to Liverpool a few years later. He was born there too but I dont know where his wife was from. (we think she was Irish, but cant find any trace of her before she married) As far as Im aware there wasnt much work to be had there. I cant figure it out. Hope some one can help me out. Kath

If he was of marrying age in 1917, would he have been conscripted? Where were Liverpool regiments at that time? Were all soldiers in France at the time? What about support staff? If he had specialist skills, he could have been conscripted into some other grouping? Sorry, no expert on WWI - perhaps repost with WWI in the query title? All the best

He would have been 36 in 1917, was this too old ? and he had a 2nd son in 1919 so I assume he didn´t go overseas. He worked in the post office before so I don´t think he had specialist skills. How could I find out about support staff?

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. It looks like this may have been conscription. See extract from Google: 'The rush of voluteers from the Territorials slowed by early 1915, the National Registration Act was enacted in July 1915 and required all men between the ages of 18 and 41 to be listed. In October 1915, the 'Derby Scheme' provided for the enlistment of recruits for one day's service, then passing on to the reserve for call-up when required. This brought in 2 million men by the end of 1915. Half were married men, however, and the government had pledged these would not be called before all single men. Insufficient volunteers came forth, so conscription was introduced by the Military Service Act of January 1916. This Act rendered liable for service all men 18 to 41, and this extended to married men after May 1916. In April 1918, the age limit was extended to 51. Conscription never applied to Ireland. Eventually, the number of men volunteering and those conscripted was about equal; 2,631,000 and 2,339,000 conscripts.' I'll see if I can find any Google info on the support staff side - my only WWI relation was sent to the Middle East.

Have you tried a website called 'The Great War Forum' There are people on there who are able to answer all sorts of seemingly obscure questions! Someone may know if Woodbridge was an army camp. Worth a try. Best wishes, Alfie

there does seem to be an astonishing depth of knowledge out there - I stumbled across this site, which also offers to tackle difficult WWI questions: www.firstworldwar.bham.ac.uk/qanda.htm