Conisborough Objectors – Appeal to Central Tribunal at Doncaster – Many Local Cases

April 1916

Mexborough and Swinton Times April 15, 1916

Conisborough Objectors.
Appeal to Central Tribunal at Doncaster.
Many Local Cases.

Quite a number of local appeals were heard by the Central Appeal Tribunal sitting on Wednesday at Doncaster. Included in the list with several Conisborough conscientious objectors.

A Denaby draper, who was represented by Mr Frank Allen asked the time to settle his business matters.

Put back to April 30

A Denaby fish salesman, fruiterer, and florist appealed for the extension of his son, who managed the business, and upon whom he was dependent. The business was in the hands of his son.

Mr Allen, who appeared for the man, said he was entitled, if he had remained unattested to the benefit of the schedule of the Military Service Acts. He was an old soldier and discharged at the expiration of his term, holding a good conduct certificate. He served through the South African war. And he, like many others, misapprehended the many posters, and for it was necessary to attest, afterwards finding he had deprived himself of that special section and had rendered himself liable for service again. He (Mr Allen) could not think any tribunal would hope that the attestation should be held to be effective.

It was agreed to hear the case on the appeal of domestic hardship, and extension was granted to the end of May.

A Swinton surgical bootmaker and fitter of surgical irons appealed on grounds of domestic hardship.

Appeal dismissed.

A glass bottle manufacturing firm appealed for the manager as indispensable. He could not be replaced, and the staff had been severely reduced by enlistments – Captain O’kell asked for an adjournment until Saturday in order to make enquiries.

A Swinton widow, appealed for her son who managed a British business in a colliery village, and in connection with which they held contracts for a considerable amount of new property – put back to May 31st.

A Pawnbroker salesman from Conisborough appealed on grounds of domestic hardship. His mother, who had a boarding house at a seaside place, was dependent upon him. One brother had been killed in France.

Appeal dismissed.

A certificated assistant school master from Conisborough, not attested, appealed on conspicuous grounds fight or assist others to fight. There was no more moral or conscience liberty in being compelled to take up non-combat time to take up competent duties.

Replying to the chairman, he said he based his objection on religious grounds, the religion of Jesus Christ. He had held ever since he could think out the matter for himself. He decided he could not as a Christian man take part in it. For five years he had been a local preacher, and had always preached the gospel of Jesus Christ, in its purity and simplicity.

Captain O’kell: You remember the time of the retreat from mon’s? – Yes – didn’t you resolve to join the colours? – No I expressed an opinion to a gentleman at that time that if things got much worse I felt as though I should almost be forced to join in with it but I explained to him afterwards it was said in the heat of the moment and when I had had time to think the matter out carefully I could not do so is a Christian: – did you make your willing preparation of going? – No. The last Will I made was in October 1912

The appeal was dismissed.

A young man who was described as a commission agent also from Conisborough appealed on the grounds of conscientious objection to either taking part in competent or noncombatant service or becoming a unit of any organisation to kill his fellow creatures. He was determined to resist conscription, even if it cost him his life, or death, he said, would be preferable to losing his conscience, so he for the wiser course would be to defy the unhappy country he was born in.

The appeal was disallowed, and the applicant asked following appeal form, and as it was handed to him that chairman said that did not mean you would be given leave to further appeal.

Another sensuous objective from Conisborough pleaded that his conscience told him he was not created to destroy life. He could not conscientiously take part in more, nor in helping to wage war to take life. He complained of the local tribunal, who, he said failed to realise he was in deep earnest and that his objection was sincerely conscientious.

The appeal was dismissed.

A Harlington farmer appealed for a horseman – put back to May 31.A Harlington milk viewers appeal was disallowed.

In another case of Denaby youth, who is training for a teacher at a Sheffield training college, pleaded he could not human life even in time of war. He also complained that a fair hearing was not granted by the local tribunal. He applied for exemption in order that he could sit for an examination in July. – He then enquired if he could be put back in order to enable him to sit for his examination, and the case, was adjourned until Saturday for enquiries to be made as to the course the training college was adopting.

Another conscientious objector from Conisborough, a chauffeur, pleaded that the interests of the workers of the world were identical, that they were not enemies but comrades and their enemy was the capitalist class.

The appeal was dismissed.

A Conisborough wholesale confectioner apply for a sales manager and clerk, but there was no appearance, the appeal was disallowed. Another Conisborough appeal for a butcher was similarly treated.