Ralph Robert Smith

South East Lancashire Appeal Tribunal at Manchester Town Hall 30 March 1916
Reported Oldham Chronicle 1 April 1916 (the following is an extract)

The South-east Lancashire Appeal Tribunal sitting at the Town Hall Manchester on Thursday afternoon heard appeals for total exemption from service made by a number of young men of Oldham, conscientious objectors, who had been sent to non-combatant service in most cases by the Oldham Tribunal and in a few cases to combatant service ….

…. Ralph Robert Smith of 235 Park-road employed as a clerk by Messrs Ritchie Letham and Co., wrote that deep religious convictions would not allow him to undertake any form of war service. The firm for which he worked was not under Government control and was manufacturing the same class of goods today as before the war. He had given up a post he had held for 12 years rather than assist in the war and he was prepared to suffer the extreme penalty of the law rather than do it.

He had taken an active part in religious work and always opposed war as being contrary to the example and teaching of Christ

Chairman: We are not for one moment saying that you young gentlemen have come here to tell us untruths. We accept them although we don't understand them.

A letter written by the Rev M Ph Davies concerning John Amey and his brother and two other young men named Smith and Taylor was read. The writer was sure that their objections against service was founded on clear religious convictions. The Union Street Congregational Church, to which they belonged, had sent 100 young men to the army or to munitions work. Was it too much to ask that these four young men should enjoy the exemption which the law allowed?

Smith was sent to non-combatant service.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Born Oldham, 14 December 1884
Died Lytham St Annes, 16 October 1958

1911 Census :
235 Park Road, Oldham
Single with parents and siblings
Occ. Railway clerk

1939 Register :
17 St Patrick's Road North, Lytham St Annes
With wife Mary E - possibly 2 children redacted
Occ. Secretary (retired)

Contributed by Dorothy Bintley