DOCKERS IN KHAKI

THE TIMES (LONDON) Friday 9th April 1915

The first step towards the formation of the Liverpool Dockers’ Battalion was taken at the Liverpool Town Hall tonight, when, in the presence of Lord Derby the commanding officer, 350 men were attested and enrolled to constitute three companies. This course had been followed in order that any mistakes which may easily occur in a scheme of this novel character may be rectified before the full battalion is formed. It is understood that applications for membership have been received from all parts of the country but only members of the Dockers’ Union are to be accepted.

The men will start work under military auspices on Monday.

Before the attestations this evening, Lord Derby addressed the men, being accorded a most enthusiastic reception. His Lordship, who was suffering from severe indisposition, was accompanied by Mr A.A. Booth, Colonel Colcannon, Captain Williams and Mr James Sexton.

Lord Derby said that he thought of the idea of this battalion for two reasons. One was that he wanted to do anything he possibly could to facilitate the work of the port, and the other was that, barred by age from any active participation in the war, he wanted to have the opportunity of putting on a uniform, and giving the dockers, who like himself were prevented from participating in the war, the same opportunity and also at the end of the war of winning the medal for their services. The battalion would be worked in conformity with union rules and with military discipline. There could, therefore, be no question of using it as a strike-breaking battalion. He would not look upon it as a strike-breaking battalion if it came to be used to do the work of men who were fighting their own superior officials and by so doing had been delaying goods going to the front. With regard to pay, a private would receive 35s a week wages and 7s a week Army pay and the sum of two guineas a week would be the lowest that any man in the battalion could earn, in addition to that there would be overtime pay to be earned. The appointment of sergeants would be in his hands. The sergeants would appoint, and the corporals would find the men. As soldiers, they would be in all respects under military law as regarded its various penalties but he did not want to talk of punishment, he wanted to put the men on their honour to make the scheme a success and having put them on their honour he didn’t think they would let him down. (cheers)