Oldham Historical Research Group

'THE GREAT WAR',     'THE WAR TO END WAR',     'WORLD WAR 1'
'What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
- Only the monstrous anger of the guns.'
                                                                                                  
from 'Anthem for Doomed Youth' by Wilfred Owen

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION IN WW1

William Makin

Oldham Tribunal 10 April 1918
Reported Oldham Chronicle 13 April 1918

Mr John Makin, builder, of Suffolk-street, Werneth, appealed to the Oldham Tribunal on Wednesday afternoon for the exemption of one of his sons, William Makin (33), married, employed by him as foreman or supervisor on engineering repair jobs. Another son (23), has conditional exemption and is similarly employed. A third son is now in hospital having been invalided home from the campaign in East Africa, where he was in the motor transport service.

William Makin had a claim for exemption as a conscientious objector.

The Chairman pointed out to Mr Makin that he could scarcely expect, in present conditions, to keep the two sons.
He replied that neither of them was physically fit for army service.
Mr Eaton: This man could go straight into his present employment in the army.

Hearing adjourned, the two brothers to be re-examined.

[The 1901 census shows John Makin had three sons, William, James and Edward, then aged 16, 12 and 6 years respectively.]

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Born Oldham, 29 April 1884
Died Oldham, 1 October 1941

1911 census
78 Green Lane, Oldham
With wife Jessie, no children
Occ: Bricklayer

1939 register
3 Link Lane, Oldham
With wife Jessie, no children listed
Occ: Structural engineer

Contributed by Dorothy Bintley

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