School Board Teachers at War
Our Aberdeen School Board Letter appraisal project brought to light many different events and themes of life in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. One of these events included the Great War of 1914-1918.
In the letters written by the teachers to the School Board, many of the male teachers communicated that they were going into service during the war. This occurred frequently during the latter part of 1915, with the introduction of Lord Derby’s Scheme. Lord Derby was appointed the Director-General of Recruiting on the 11th of October 1915. His scheme, officially known as the ‘Group System’, followed five days later. The scheme allowed men aged 18-40 to enlist voluntarily or attest with an obligation to be called up later. The men who enlisted under this scheme enlisted between mid-October 1915 and the end of February 1916 (military conscription begins in January 1916 with the passing of the Military Service Act).
Despite teachers signing up for the Lord Derby Scheme, their profession remained a ‘reserved occupation’ throughout the war. Below is information on two Aberdonian teachers for whom this was the case.
John Henderson Mennie
John Henderson Mennie was 37 years of age when he enlisted into the Scots Guards on the 13th of November 1915. As can be seen from the below letter, he was a teacher at Kings Street Evening School.
He was given soldier number 15837. His paper shows that he was a teacher.
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| [Find My Past] |
John was mobilised as a Private on the 13th of July 1916 and would later be transferred to the Depot in April 1917, being increased in rank to unpaid Lance Corporal in a matter of days. In June he became Acting Schoolmaster Sergeant.
In June of 1918, John was granted a temporary commission as 2nd Lieutenant, to be an interpreter of Prisoners of War (POWs).
Additional research shows that John married in June 1906. Him and his wife Jane had two children at the time of John's enlistment - Duncan and Helena Mary. Another daughter, Elma Rose, was born in 1916.
John William Cameron
John William Cameron of Mile End School was 32 years of age when he attested to the Royal Field Artillery on the 25th of November 1915. He had soldier number 142850.
John was married to Bessie Cameron and was mobilised and posted to No 5 Artillery School on the 17th of May 1916. On 18th May 1916, he informs the board that he is leaving that evening and this salary should be paid to his wife. He was appointed acting full Bombardier (equivalent of Corporal) in August 1916 before reverting to Gunner (equivalent to Private) on the 27th of October 1917.
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| [Find My Past] |
John was discharged on the 9th of November 1918 due to being physically unfit. He had been unwell since May 1916 from neurasthenia and debility when at Catterick Barracks. John was described on his 1918 medical report as being ‘a highly nervous man’ and that the causes were ‘constitutional’. He was awarded the silver war badge, number B 320 511.
The research on both men was undertaken through access to Ancestry and Findmypast. Why not visit your local library to see what you could discover about your family members?
The following images show additional letters from the collection including those for Alex Reid, James Brown and John Mutch joining the army, and the rejection of George Strachan:
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| Alex Reid |
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James Brown, Causewayend Public School  John Mutch  |
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| George Strachan rejection notice |
Other information about the war period can also be gleaned from these letters. The below letter dates from 1915 and mentions the shortage of wool used to make 'comforts for the troops':
The following from the Grammar School's Rector Morland Simpson relays the school's desire to give up their prizes that year (1915):
For some time there has been in our School a feeling that during the War some economy might be effected by doing without Prizes. On Monday, 15th Inst., the proposal was received with enthusiastic unanimity by a meeting of all boys in our Middle and Upper School who were in the first twelve of their classes this Quarter. I have given them some days for the expression of any latent dissent. None being forthcoming, it gives me much pleasure on behalf of the School to inform the Board of their desire to forego Prizes this Session. I suggest that a simple Certificate of Merit will in years to come be much more highly prized as a memento of the Great War time, and hope that the spirit thus manifested by the School may met with the Board's approval.
These records are from the series of Aberdeen School Board letters CA/25/2/11. The catalogue can be searched here:
https://archives.aberdeencity.gov.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=CA%2f25%2f2%2f11&pos=1
Letters were appraised and curated by volunteer Ken. Research by Archivist Kimberley Newell. Written by Archivist Kimberley Newell and Archivist Kim Smith.
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