Reserved Occupations (SQA National 5 History): Revision Note

What were reserved occupations?

• Reserved occupations were jobs the UK government believed were essential to the war effort

• This included jobs in the coal, iron and steel industries

• Under the Military Service Act, 1916, men in reserved occupations could receive exemption from conscription.

Examples of reserved occupations

• Reserved occupations included:

  • Coal miners

  • Iron and steel workers

  • Skilled shipyard hands

  • Railwaymen

  • Farmers

  • Doctors

  • Teachers

  • Clergy

  • Vets

  • Munitions workers

• Many of these workers wore official ‘On War Service’ badges to show they were doing urgent war work

  • The badges, which helped them avoid harassment, so people did not think they were conscientious objectors

• Skilled platers, riveters, engineers and draughtsmen in yards like John Brown (Clydebank) and Beardmore (Dalmuir) were exempt from conscription due to the importance of their shipbuilding work

• Underground miners in Fife and Lanarkshire were exempt from conscription so they could keep pits producing fuel for industry and the navy

• Farm labourers did vital work for the food supply

• Reserved occupations kept skilled labour in important Scottish industries, which sustained war production