NOT EXEMPT

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 250, 23 October 1942, Page 6

NOT EXEMPT

GRADE I E.F.S. MEN. OVERSEAS ARMY SERVICE. The posltion regarding members of the E.F.S. who are called up for service_ with the armed forces has been clarified by a statement made by the Director of National Service (Mr J. S. Hunter) in reply to questions raised regarding the retention of men for fire-fighting purposes. It is pointed o-ut that men who are physically fit and of age for overseas service are not made ineligible for that service by being members of the E.F.S. Service in the E.F.S. does not ex-empt-a man from being called up for military service. Trained E.F.S. personnel have been appealed for, and as a general rule appeals have been granted with respect to 'Territorial Force service. Fir-e brigade service in the past has been accepted as the equivalent of Territorial service, provided the member had complied with the training required. Such training, the Director points out, has not been accepted as the equivalent of overseas service, except in respect of trained brigadesmen with not less than three years' service. Brigade difficulties have increased as a result of the full-time mobilisa - tion of the Territorial Force and the imposition of an overseas liability on all members of such force. The posltion is that reservation for fire-fighting purposes cannot be granted in respect of men between the- ages of 21 and 41 who are of medical grade 1. It is therefore necessary that an endeavour should be made to recruit E.F.S. personnel from men below grade 1 or over the overseas age limit.