Job Charnock

Oldham Tribunal 5 July 1916
Reported Oldham Chronicle 8 July 1916

Several Oldham men appealed to the Oldham Tribunal on Monday afternoon for exemption from service on the ground that they hold a conscientious objection against war and against having connection with the war …

… Job Charnock, of 3, Widdop Street, another conscientious objector, was soon disposed of, for he is a planing mule carriage builder employed by Messrs. Plat Bros. and Co., and according to the general and wide terms of the last order, setting out the certified occupations, he is exempt from service. A revised list is in course of preparation in which the different branches of the various trades will, presumably, be specifically named. Meanwhile the Tribunal held that Charnock is exempt, and he said that he was willing to stop at his own work so temporary exemption to September 1st was granted.

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Oldham Tribunal 27 September 1916
Reported Oldham Standard 28 September 1916

More conscientious objections to military service were preferred before the Oldham Tribunal on Wednesday …

… The next "CO" was Job Charnock of 3 Widdop-street who is 40 years of age and is a textile machine joiner at Messrs Platt's works. He is a member of the International Bible Students' Association.

He stated that he based his objection on the teaching of Christ and added that he had very bad health and had been under the doctor for a long-standing trouble. He was subject to fainting fits and his eyes were so bad that he had to wear glasses regularly. If he were sent for service his home would have to be broken up and his wife was 44 years of age and not strong. He had one child of school age.

Councillor Schofield (to appellant): Your plea is that you can only serve one master and He is Christ, "for no man can serve two masters." You also state that you left the Methodist body in order to join the I.B.S.A. Further you say that you are sacrificing everything the world counts good.
The man explained that he was sacrificing all that man called pleasure. He added, in reply to questions, that he objected to hospital work but that he was prepared to do national work, arguing that he was doing such work at the present time and asking, "Is not my trade an exempted one?"
Councillor Schofield: But your employers have not appealed for you.
The man's wife said that if he were taken it would mean breaking up the home.

He was sent to non-combatant service.

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Born Oldham, 1877
Died Oldham, 27 December 1931
Buried Chadderton Cemetery, Grave HA 167

1911 census
3 Widdop Street, Oldham
With wife Annie and daughter Annie aged 10 years
Occ. Mule carriage joiner, textile machinery

1939 register Deceased

Contributed by Dorothy Bintley