Although not strictly recruiting bodies, they played an important part in the process of conscription.
Tribunals were published as part of the Derby Scheme in 1915, but were continued on a statutory basis by the Military Service Act 1916, which brought in conscription.
Although they are best known for their often heavy-handed attitude towards cases of conscientious objection, most of the tribunals' work dealt with domestic and business matters.
Men could apply on the grounds of their doing work of national importance, business or domestic hardship, medical unfitness, or conscientious objection.
[3] The image of the tribunals at the time was that they were soft on these cases and harsh on those relating to domestic hardship;[citation needed] after the war conscience cases became more prominent and tribunals are known for their (genuinely) harsh treatment of objectors.