Can anyone tell me what records were used to call up men for service. Did they have identity cards in 1914? How could someone avoid the call up. I am looking for Leonard Davidson Abrehart. He went AWOL from the Royal Navy early in 1914 before the war started ( I have his Navy records) He next turns up in 1920 getting married in Dover using the name Leonard Davidson. He then joins the Merchant Navy using Leonard Davidson and saying he was born Packenham Victoria Australia. when in fact he was born Mitcham Surrey. I have looked at the 1WW medal cards but too many Leonard Davidson's Just one possibility a Leonard Victor Davidson (Leonard had a brother Victor who died at sea in 1915) I just would like to fill in the gap. I have checked on the Mariners list and nobody call tell me if the Navy would have looked for him when he went AWOL in Plymouth. Regards Sheila NSW

Hi Sheila Conscription started in Jan 1916 so he joined up rather than was called up If he had served in the Forces before WW1 he may have been in the reserves and called up, otherwise he volunteered If a man volunteered and said his name was Jim SMITH as long as he did not look to young or to old he would be accepted from the information given, there was no proof requested Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) On 09/08/2012 15:38, Sheila Tutton wrote: > Can anyone tell me what records were used to call up men for service. Did > they have identity cards in 1914? > > How could someone avoid the call up. > > I am looking for Leonard Davidson Abrehart. He went AWOL from the Royal Navy > early in 1914 before the war started ( I have his Navy records) > > He next turns up in 1920 getting married in Dover using the name Leonard > Davidson. > He then joins the Merchant Navy using Leonard Davidson and saying he was > born Packenham Victoria Australia. when in fact he was born Mitcham Surrey. > I have looked at the 1WW medal cards but too many Leonard Davidson's Just > one possibility a Leonard Victor Davidson (Leonard had a brother Victor who > died at sea in 1915) > > I just would like to fill in the gap. I have checked on the Mariners list > and nobody call tell me if the Navy would have looked for him when he went > AWOL in Plymouth. > > Regards > Sheila > NSW

Many thanks to Nivard & Andy for their help with my Leonard Abrehart. A friend has suggested that he may have dropped the Abrehart because he thought it sounded too German in 1914. That's another problem I have trying to locate the origin of Abrehart/Abrahart/ Abyheart etc. The earliest in London is in the 1700's. Regards Sheila NSW