Royal Flying Corps recruitment posters tradesmen, some of which were reserved occupations.
During WW1 certain occupations were "reserved" in that the man was doing work that others could not, and was considered vital to the war effort in some way. Normally, as such, they would be exempt from conscription - but some would be able to volunteer within their speciality eg Blacksmiths and therefore be doing "war work" and not become infantry.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reserved_occupation
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1 comment
StoneRoad2013 said:
My own father was a machinist, capable of setting up, supervising others and in the tool room - so he was covered as reserved occupation, even before he was 21.