On This Day, 25 April 1918

Birmingham Daily Post

Thursday 25 April 1918

BIRMINGHAM MEN’S DEPARTURE

A cordial send-off was given to about 150 members of the Birmingham Police Force, who left the city yesterday in order to join army units. The men marched from Curzon Hall to Snow Hill Station, and were preceded by the Police Band. The party included a number of members of the detective department, of the clerical staff, and representatives from each of the divisions. The Chief Constable marched with the men, and the Deputy Chief Constable (Superintendent McManus) and the other divisional superintendents were present to see the men off. A number of other recruits followed the police, and cheers were raised as the men entered the station. A further contingent from the forces will leave to-morrow.

Feeling has been caused among a section of the men by the fact that a young member of the force, passed for general service, and without parental responsibility, should not have been selected for military service, while other policemen of long service, married and with families, have been included in the draft which left Birmingham yesterday. A petition, signed by a number of the men, asking for an enquiry has been sent to the military authorities.