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Some of the Militiamen from Birmingham and the Midlands seen here being issued with their
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Some of the Militiamen from Birmingham and the Midlands seen here being issued with their
Some of the Militiamen from Birmingham and the Midlands seen here being issued with their uniforms at Whittington Barracks, Lichfield, this morning, to begin their six months training 15th July 1939
The Militiamen were the result of The Military Training Act 1939 which was an Act of Parliament passed by the Conservative administration on 26 May 1939, in a period of international tension that led to World War II. The Act applied to males aged 20 and 21 years old who were to be called up for six months full-time military training, and then transferred to the Reserve..
Men called up were to be known as militiamen to distinguish them from the regular army. To emphasise this distinction, each man was issued with a suit in addition to a uniform. The intention was for the first intake to undergo six months of basic training before being discharged into an active reserve. They would then be recalled for short training periods and attend annual camps.
There was one registration under the Act, of the first cohort of liable males, on Saturday 3 June 1939, and call-up for these men followed
Staff
Birmingham Post and Mail Archive
Mirrorpix
Lichfield
Staffordshire
England
Media ID 21841614
© Mirrorpix
1939 Coats Men Only Recruitment Recruits Stores Thirties Warwickshire Trenchcoat War And Conflict West Midlands
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print takes us back to a significant moment in history - the morning of July 15th, 1939. We find ourselves at Whittington Barracks in Lichfield, witnessing an important event unfold. The image captures a group of determined-looking militiamen from Birmingham and the Midlands being issued with their uniforms. These young men were part of The Military Training Act 1939, enacted by the Conservative administration during a time of escalating international tension that would soon lead to World War II. This act required males aged 20 and 21 years old to undergo six months of full-time military training before being transferred to the Reserve. To distinguish them from regular army personnel, these newly enlisted individuals were known as militiamen. As seen in the photograph, each man was not only provided with a uniform but also received a suit as an additional distinguishing feature. The initial plan was for this first intake to complete their basic training before entering active reserve status. They would then be periodically called back for short training periods and annual camps. It is worth noting that on June 3rd, 1939, there was one registration under this act for the first cohort of eligible males followed by subsequent call-ups. This evocative print serves as a poignant reminder of those who answered their country's call during uncertain times and embarked on rigorous training to defend their homeland when it needed them most.
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