King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

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Regimental History - First World War

Relaxation of Dental Requirements for Recruits

Prior to the First World War there was no National Health Service with a dental service, so dental treatment had to be paid for privately and was beyond the means of many ordinary people.  One notable reason for the First World War volunteer to be turned down for military was the state of his teeth.  As we no doubt all know, toothache can be a horrible thing, and the last thing the British Army wanted was a whole range of soldiers with poor teeth and associated issues.  Thus volunteers with "bad teeth" were turned away, but clear the number was substantial and this rule was relaxed in February 1915.

The Kendal Mercury, of 26th February 1915 reported the following:

An order has been sent to the recruiting office at the [Kendal] Town Hall regarding those who offer their services as recruits and are found physically fit in every respect except on account of insufficiency of teeth. To meet those cases, authority is given to provide teeth up to a sum not exceeding £3. Recruits may be passed by the medical examiner as “fit, subject to dental treatment.” Such men, if willing to undergo dental treatment may be attested and despatched to the depot, final approval being deferred until they are pronounced to be in every respect fit. The necessary dental treatment will be carried out as soon as possible after the man’s arrival at the depot. Men who have been previously refused enlistment, or discharge from the service solely on account of defective or in-sufficient teeth should be allowed to re-submit themselves for examination under the above conditions. All will be re-examined by the military medical officer immediately after treatment.

 

 

© Images are copyright, Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum.
 You must seek permission prior to publication of any of our images.

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