Squire Blackshaw

Shaw Tribunal 7 March 1916
Reported Oldham Chronicle 8 March 1916

Squire Blackshaw of 21 Oxford-street, Shaw, under-carder at Monarch Mill, Royton, asked for exemption saying that he had a conscientious objection to the taking of human life, based upon Christian principles.

He agreed to be sent for non-combatant service and asked if it was within the powers of the tribunal to decide the service.

Councillor Clegg said it was not. Smiling, he remarked that they might send him mine-sweeping netting and barbed wire entanglements or some little job of that sort. (Laughter)
Councillor Hopwood: Or mending the wire entanglements.

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He served in the Royal Army Medical Corps.
At Blackpool on 4 June 1918 he was court martialled, sentenced to 18 months with hard labour and sent to Wormwood Scrubs.
On 16 July 1918 at Wormwood Scrubs he accepted work on the Home Office scheme.

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Oldham Local Studies and Archives PUO/1/60 (Guardians' Minutes) 14 August 1918:

Report on the circumstances of dependants of convicted conscientious objector Squire Blackshaw, formerly of Queen Street, Shaw.

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Born Oldham, 16 April 1885
Died Oldham, October 1970

1911 census :
21 Oxford Street, Shaw, Oldham
Single, age 25, with widowed mother, two older sisters and three younger brothers.
Occ: Grinder and stripper

1939 register :
Not found

Emigrated to Canada 28 March 1828

Buried Crompton Cemetery, grave 11404, 22 October 1970
Address at death: The Hollies, Frederick Street, Oldham [a care home]

He has an entry on the Pearce List.

Contributed by Dorothy Bintley