Reserved occupation

A reserved occupation (also known as essential services) is an occupation considered important enough to a country that those serving in such occupations are exempt - in fact forbidden - from military service. In a total war, such as the Second World War, where most fit men of military age were conscripted into the armed forces, exceptions were given to those who performed jobs vital to the country and the war effort which could not be abandoned or performed by others. Not only were such people exempt from being conscripted, they were often prohibited from enlisting on their own initiative, and were required to remain in their posts. Examples of reserved occupations include medical practitioners and police officers, but what is or is not a reserved occupation will depend on war needs and a country's particular circumstances.

World War II

In the UK, in 1938, a Schedule of Reserved Occupations had been drawn up, exempting certain key skilled workers from conscription. This was as a result of the problems from World War I, when too many skilled workers were allowed to enlist, thus creating serious problems in certain key industries. Examples of reserved occupations in the Second World War included coal mining, ship building, and many engineering-related trades. The situation and the Schedule were constantly reviewed, most particularly because of the influx of women into the workplace, for example into the munitions industry, which freed up men to be called up. Many in reserved occupations joined civil defence units such as the Special Constabulary, the Home Guard or the ARP, which created additional responsibilities on top of their work, although this allowed the men to ‘serve’ without having to join up, thus alleviating the frustration many felt. Also, many pacifists and conscientious objectors worked in reserved occupations as a compromise or to avoid call-up. Harper Adams University College saw a huge demand for places during the second world war, as both students and farmers were exempt from conscription.

In the UK coal mining was not a reserved occupation at the start of the war, and there was a great shortage of coal miners. So from December 1943 one in in ten men conscripted was chosen at random to work in the coal mines. These men became known as Bevin Boys after the creator of the scheme, Ernest Bevin, the Minister of Labour and National Service.

A schedule of Reserved Occupations also existed in Canada during World War II.

Famous people who worked in Reserved Occupations

The following list contains famous and notable people who worked in any reserved occupation, whether it was as a Bevin Boy or a doctor, etc.:

Peter, Lord Archer of Sandwell	Former Member of Parliament	Represented both Rowley Regis and Tipton; and latterly for Warley West. Solicitor General for England and Wales from March 1974 to May 1979. Also chaired the Enemy Property Claims Assessment panel.
Sir Stanley Bailey	Police officer	Former chief constable of Northumbria Police
John Comer	English Actor	Comer began his career as a bevin boy until gaining engineering apprenticeship at Metropolitan-Vickers long later to become well known for his roles as Les Brandon in I Didn't Know You Cared and as cafe owner Sid in the first 10 years of the longest running sitcom Last of the Summer Wine from 1973 until his death in 1984.
John Reginald Christie	Serial killer	Was a special constable during World War II, despite having a criminal record for theft and assault. He also served in the Sherwood Foresters during World War I.
Walter Cronkite	Journalist	Covered the conflict as a reporter
Hans Carossa (1878–1956)	artist
Douglas Edwards	Journalist	Worked on the home front
Albert Einstein	Physicist and political theorist	In the First World War worked on making flame throwers for the German Army. 'Pacifist' who also did consultancy work for the US Navy
(Lord) Paul Hamlyn	Founder of the Hamlyn group of publishers and Music for Pleasure (record label)	Worked as a Bevin boy at Oakdale Colliery
Hanns Johst (1890–1979)	artist and "Reichskultursenator"
Erwin Guido Kolbenheyer (1878–1962)	artist
Leslie Howard	Actor	Shot down by German fighters over the Atlantic.
Dickson Mabon	Moderate UK Labour politician	On his discharge in 1948 he went to the University of Glasgow to read Medicine.
Agnes Miegel (1879–1964)	artist
Eric Morecambe	Comedian	Half of the British comedy double act Morecambe and Wise, Morecambe worked at a mine in Accrington for 11 months, which may have affected his health and led to heart attacks later in life.
Jock Purdon	Folk singer/poet	Purdon stayed on in the Durham coal mines after the war. "For me there's three great generals - Geronimo, Alexander the Great and Arthur Scargill".
Peter Alan Rayner	Numismatic Author	Rayner was conscripted into the mines during World War II.
Brian, Lord Rix, CBE, DL	Actor/manager, and president of Mencap	Rix volunteered to leave the RAF to join the Bevin Boy Scheme. "I have never regretted the decision," he says.
Peter Shaffer	Dramatist	The author of Equus and Amadeus, he graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge.
Alf Sherwood	Footballer	Went on to win 41 caps for Wales
Gerald Smithson	Cricketer	While serving as a Bevin Boy, Smithson was called into the Test cricket team for a tour of the West Indies.
Sir Jimmy Savile	Broadcaster	Worked as a Bevin Boy
Leo Szilard	Physicist	Essential to the development of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Alan Turing	Mathematician	Deveoped cryptographic theory working at Bletchley Park. Later persecuted for being homosexual.
Hubert James Willey	Police Officer	Served until his death in 1948. Had served in the British Army in World War I.

See also

• Gottbegnadeten list: a list of artists and media workers exempted from conscription into the Wehrmacht for their importance to the propaganda system
• Munitions of War Act 1915 A precursor to the reserved occupation list, where no worker could leave his employment without the consent of his employer.