John Longley

Huddersfield Police Court
Reported Oldham Standard 13 October 1916

John Longley, painter, Cyrus Longley, cloth finisher … were charged with being absentees under the Military Service Act at the Police Court, Huddersfield.

Longley stated that in standing there he was further testifying in the faith and belief that he held. Although the Tribunal failed to recognise that he was a sincere and conscientious objector, he believed that, in taking the attitude that he had done, he had proved his faith. He was not there in defiance but for principle.

The Chairman: Why didn't you leave the country before the war began? You let other people fight for you.
Longley: No, they are not fighting for me.

Cyrus Longley, in defence, said that he wished to reiterate and emphasise the statement made by his brother. He took as his motto and guide the statement of a great German Socialist who said, "For the workers of the world there was only one war and that was the class war."
The Magistrates' Clerk: You are not here to deliver a lecture to the justices but to answer the charge. If you have any answer in law, give it.

Longley: This is the first time I have been in a court of justice. War is hell and those who want hell, let them go to hell.

The men were fined 40s and handed over to an escort.

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The WO 363 records for John Longley survive (held at The National Archives, available online via Find My Past):

22 March 1916 He appeared at the Saddleworth tribunal and was exempted from combatant service only.
October 1916 (see above) he appeared before Huddersfield magistrates on a charge of being an absentee. He was handed over to the military.
10 October 1916 Enlisted into the 5th Northern Company Non-combatant Corps at Halifax aged 23years 364 days. Regimental no. 3023. Sent to Rugeley Camp.
20 October 1916 Court martialled for refusing to obey an order sentenced to 2 years with hard labour and sent to Wormwood Scrubs.
1 January 1917 He accepted work offered by the Brace Committee.
January 1917 Recorded at Ballachulish in the Scottish Highlands working in a quarry. April 1918 Recorded as being in the Wakefield Work Centre.

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Cyrus and John were brothers.

John has an entry on the Pearce List.

Born Delph, Saddleworth, 10 October 1892
Died Huddersfield, September quarter 1959

1911 census
Lower Stones, Delph, Saddleworth
Single with parents and siblings
Occ: Weft carrier

1939 register
29 Long Croft Street, Golcar, Colne Valley, W. Yorkshire
With wife Martha and 2 children - possibly one more redacted
Occ: Journeyman painter and decorator

Contributed by Dorothy Bintley