RECRUITING IN BRITAIN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19139, 7 October 1936, Page 11

RECRUITING IN BRITAIN

BAIT TO UNEMPLOYED

LONDON, Sept, 26

Owing (o the serious failure of the recruiting campaign the War Office is exploiting innumerable novel schemes, one of which is the unique experiment of inviting 36 unemployed men to take a week’s free holiday with the forces as an unofficial try-out.

If they do not like the life, they need not join. The men will bo the guests of the First Battalion, Royal Borkshires, and the Second Battalion, Queen’s Own Royal West Kents, at the seaside garrison of Shorncliffe.

The idea is that the visitors, by playing games with the soldiers and generally sharing their social amenities, shall obtain first-hand experience of Army life. “They'll have the pleasures of the troops, hut none of the duties," an officer fold the* Sunday Sun. “At the end of the week, there will be no obligation to join up, but we hope that some will do so.”

Unemployed single men aged from 18 to 25 in specified areas will be invited to present themselves at the local recruiting offices. After medical examination and a simple educational lest, they will he taken out on tour to see the troops at'physical training, machine-gun and anti-aircraft training, rifle shooting and other activities.

It is possible that they may ho allowed to join in drills in the afternoon.

They will take part in football, mix freely with the men in the canteens-, and discover what Tommy really thinks of Army life. _ , Each man will he given a. certificate promising that there will he no compulsion. He may enlist, at the end ol (lie week or go home with his unemployment rights unaffected.