As hostilities ceased as a result of the various Armistices in late 1918, the British Government faced the complex task of demobilising the army. There was public and industrial pressure to get men home as quickly as possible, and if possible to reflect their terms of engagement and how long they had been serving, but countered by the conflicting need to man new Armies of Occupation. Announcements soon began to be made, notably that except in case of personnel serving in India, North Russia and Siberia, and who had not volunteered for service with the Armies of Occupation, others would be released with all possible despatch.
To a large extent, demobilisation was dominated by industrial priorities, with coal miners and shipyard men especially likely to be released early. The Army Book 64 “Soldier’s Pay Book” contained details of each man’s industrial group and trade, and it was these classifications that enabled the various government ministries involved to determine demobilisation timing.
But some categories fell outside this general approach.
Demobilisers
A demobiliser was an officer or soldier who was required immediately on the cessation of hostilities whether in a military or civil capacity for demobilisation purposes [that is, to play a part in the demobilisation of other men.]. He was selected by a Government Department and his name sent to the War Office. The number was limited.
Demobilisers were entitled to immediate release subject to military necessities, and whether or not the group to which they belonged was open for demobilisation. They tended to be officers and men of certain staffs and departmental corps with a clear role in the process of demobilisation: the Royal Army Service Corps, Royal Army Medical Corps, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, personnel of Record Offices, Army Pay Offices, etc.
Pivotal Men
A pivotal man was an officer or soldier required in a civil capacity immediately on the cessation of hostilities for the purposes of national reconstruction. He was selected by the Ministry of Labour from employers’ applications and his name sent to the War Office. The number was limited.
In addition, in cases where men could not be certified as “pivotal”, the Ministry of Labour selected a number for special release on general industrial grounds and sent the names to the War Office. Again, the number was limited.
Piovotal and speciual release men were entitled to immediate release subject to military necessities, and whether or not the group to which they belonged was open for demobilisation.
Army Order 55 of 1919
The effect of Army Order 55 of 1919 was to do away with demobilisers, pivotal men and special release cases, except insofar as men had already been registered by the War Office before 1 February 1919. Men so registered before that date were still entitled to immediate demobilisation (subject to military necessities) whether or not they fell within the classes otherwise eligible for demobilisation under that order, but no men could, since the issuing of AO55, be recommended for release as demobilisers or on pivotal grounds or for special release on business grounds, and their eligibility for demobilisation was now dependent on the terms of the Army Order.
Slip Men
In order to assist reconstruction in civil life, forms known as Civil Employment Forms were distributed to units. Officers might fill up these forms if they so wished, but all men had to do so. These forms gave all necessary particulars concerning the officer or man in question, including his employment in civil life, and the names of his previous employers. The forms when completed were forwarded by officers commanding units to the Ministry of Labour. The Ministry, after having ascertained that the officer’s or man’s employment was assured in civil life, post a release slip (which was attached to the form received) to officers commanding units concerned. The officer or man was then registered as a “slip” man, but he was not entitled to immediate or early demobilisation as is a demobiliser, or a pivotal man, or a man whose special release was recommended. He was merely entitled to priority of release over the men in the same group to which he belongs who were not so registered. The effect of Army Order 55 was that a “slip” man was not demobilised unless he was eligible for demobilisation under the terms of the Army Order. A slip man need not have been applied for by a pre-war employer, but any employer who had employed him at any time or who has never employed him at all may agree to employ him. Therein he differs from a “contract” man.
Contract men
Early in December 1918, it was decided that employers who wished to re-employ officers or men who had been in their service on or before 4 August, 1914, could make out an offer of employment, in accordance with a prescribed form, and, after having had the offer approved by a local advisory committee attached to the Employment Exchange, send it to the officer or man whom they wished to re-employ. If the officer or man wished to accept the offer of re-employment, he handed the offer to his commanding officer, and he was registered for demobilisation as a “contract” man, and was treated on the same footing as a “slip” man.
The remainder of troops were demobilised broadly in line with industrial priorities.