WWI: Return of the Men
Did discharged men return to their old jobs? What if they were not fit enough to resume old duties?
Minute regarding enlistments by staff to serve overseas and discharges (1919-05-08)TfL Corporate Archives
Return of the men
On 8th May 1919 it was reported that 82% of discharged men had returned to work in the organisation and a further 3% had stated their intention to return
The organisation fulfilled the national promise as to the discharged soldier's first right to employment. By the end of December 1919, 2,304 men had been discharged from the Army and of these 1,607 had returned to the services of the organisation
Once the war was over the organisation even began lobbying in individual cases to get their men released from duty and would also make attempts to locate staff who weren't listed as missing or killed in action.
Staff didn't always return in the same state of health as when they'd left, but attempts were made to employ them where possible. In June 1918 the Electric Railways Company reported that 74% of those discharged as medically unfit had been able to be given some form of duties.
This letter shows that the organisation were taking steps to provide work for wounded employees who were unable to continue in their old jobs. Ex-conductor H G Brown recounts how due to his injuries he is unable to return to war service and has instead returned to the organisation on lighter duties
List of non-administrative staff medically unfit (1919-01-01)TfL Corporate Archives
List of Non-Administrative Staff Medically Unfit in 1919
Includes details of 36 men, where employed, how long they've served, the nature of their illness or disability. Includes the story of WH Davies who was medically discharged from the Army after being gassed
List of non-administrative staff medically unfit (1919-01-01)TfL Corporate Archives
List of Non-Administrative Staff Medically Unfit in 1919
Includes details of 36 men, where employed, how long they have served, the nature of their illness or disability. Includes the story of TC Camfield who since demobilisation from the Army had been in hospital several times for long periods of neurasthenia
List of non-administrative staff medically unfit (1919-01-01)TfL Corporate Archives
List of Non-Administrative Staff Medically Unfit in 1919
Includes details of 36 men, where employed, how long they have served, the nature of their illness or disability. Includes the story of S G May, downgraded to Collector from Guard at own request due to effects of war wounds in the head
Extract from Minutes of the Stores and Accounts Committee relating to the King's National Roll (1938-04-05)TfL Corporate Archives
Memorandum of 1938 relating to the Kings National Roll
Includes comparative percentage figures for disabled ex-servicemen employed in 1936 and 1938, and looks at ways to achieve certification even through the 5% target hasn't been achieved
Memorandum to the Vice-Chairman relating to the Kings National Roll (1938-04-01)TfL Corporate Archives
Story compiled by TfL using information in records at the Transport for London Corporate Archives. The Corporate Archives seeks to preserve and make accessible records, not to interpret them. A wider range of material is available for physical consultation.
Permission is granted to reproduce for personal and educational use only.
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