Reasons not to join army during WWII

[ronnierose]

Does anyone know where I can find a list of reasons that people didn't have to go to fight for Great Britain in WWII?

[Mikeyd2]

Here are a few if you read through ...

http://www.ppu.org.uk/learn/infodocs/cos/st_co_wwtwo.html

[ronnierose]

I was thinking less conscientious objection and more disabilities/conditions/age/etc.

[jno]

basically you could be a conscientious objector if your conscience would not let you fight. There were also medical reasons such as flat feet why the army might reject someone - quite a few of these, but I don't have a list.

[kempie]

Also do a search on "reserved occupation"

[ronnierose]

What other medical reasons were there?

Thanks for info guys

[Mikeyd2]

Whether it was based on fact or not I don't know , but in Dad's Army "Pikey" was discharged because he had a rare blood group and "Walker" was allergic to Corned Beef".

Maybe similar things were a reason.

[waimarie]

Hi ronnierose, You ask for reasons, I don't want to get killed !! That seems a pretty god reason to me. The best explanation of how this works is explained in great detail in the great war book, Catch 22. If ever you wondered about the stupidity of war and, more to the point, our leaders who get us there, read this book.

[vicalncraig]

Alcoholism

[Ethel]

Colour blindness, night blindness, homosexuality (although this was relaxed), perforated ear drum, weak chest, pigeon chest, flat feet, asthma...

[noxlumos]

Some reserved occupations were some people who worked in all sorts of transport, so lorry drivers, train drivers, bargies etc as well as some farmers, some skilled workers, some Drs etc ... you get the idea, anything the country couldn't do without.