Military requirement

[sundance229]

Hello, My Grandfather Antonio Conistabile b.1890 came to America from Cortale in 1906 at the age of 16. At some point he returned to Italy and then back to America again in 1909, one month short of his 19th birthday. I've been advised this was possibly for a military requirement.

I've seen some comments here that there is a requirement to register for the military at age 18. Could that have been why he returned to Italy? Would have have been required to serve? I could find no records in Ancestry or online.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you, Carol

[erudita74]

Unless his entire family had emigrated out of Italy by the time he was 18, he would have had to appear before a draft council board there to determine his eligibility to serve in the military. He did not technically have to register for the draft, as here in the U.S. Each town kept a list called a "lista di leva," which was compiled from its birth and baptism registers. This list was updated annually to eliminate the names of anyone who had died, and a copy was also sent to the military district of the town's province or region. Then, all males on the list would receive notice to appear in their 18th year and would then have to undergo three days of physical examinations to determine their eligibility to serve their required military term. In 1910, the term of service was reduced from 3 years to 2 but, in 1908, it was three years. Anyone with visible defects such as being blind, or being crippled, was automatically exempt from service. Anyone with diseases, such as TB or syphillis, was also exempt, as was anyone not deemed to be of sufficient size and strength. There were, however, other non medical reasons why a male could be exempted from serving. If your ancestor was the third born male, or later, in his family, and had two older brothers who had already completed their own military service, then he would have been exempt from serving. According to his WWI draft registration card, which he completed in the U.S, he answered "no" to the question about whether or not he had ever been in the military. So he may have been exempted for one of the above reasons, but you would have to send for his Italian military record to determine this.

Erudita

[sundance229]

Thank you so much for the clarification! Much appreciated!

[erudita74]

You're very welcome

Erudita