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Exempt from joining the Forces during the WW11

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Shani

Shani Report 27 Nov 2016 11:04

Excellent, thank you. That probably is the more likely reason

+++DetEcTive+++

+++DetEcTive+++ Report 27 Nov 2016 10:14

It could well have been because he was homosexual. The Forces physical medical examination would have spotted unusual 'damage' eg tearing or bleeding where there shouldn't have been any.
There was a bio-film/TV programme about Quentin Crisp (born Denis Pratt) who was turned down for the same reason.

It wasn't illegal to say that you were homosexual, but it was if caught having or suspected of having sexual activity with the same gender. Read up on 'Cottaging'.

Researching:
Dormant member as from 20 Sep 2019 . Click on my board name to send a message

Shani

Shani Report 27 Nov 2016 09:54

Many thanks for your response.
He didn't have family. He was 23 years old and in fine health. He was gay but was not arrested until 1944 where he was imprisoned for 9 weeks. I did think it was because he was gay but he never told anyone the reason why. When you consider he was a well known artist amongst a large gay friendship group, why wouldn't he tell his friends? He was also half-german which was not a secret, his dad was also naturalised.

KathleenBell

KathleenBell Report 27 Nov 2016 00:01

Was he a widower with children or could there have been domestic hardship if he had to leave the family. These were two other reasons for exemption.

Kath. x

+++DetEcTive+++

+++DetEcTive+++ Report 26 Nov 2016 23:43

My dad was classified as B (something). He had flat feet. He wasn't at all disabled but obviously wouldn't be able to march for any length of time.

Might your great uncle have been too old?

Researching:
Dormant member as from 20 Sep 2019 . Click on my board name to send a message

Shani

Shani Report 26 Nov 2016 22:35

My Great Uncle was apparently 1 of only 3000 given exemption from the above . He was not a conscientious objector, nor had one of the stated jobs required for the war effort, being an artist, nor ill or disabled. Can anyone help find reasons why he would have been exempt?

Thank you in advance
Shani