John Weeder

Oldham Tribunal 3 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 …

… In Aston's [David Aston] case and the following one the tribunal did not see the consistency of a conscience that objected to non-combatant service and allowed of working on munitions

… John Weeder of Osborne Street, Oldham, a labourer employed at Messrs. Ferranti's works, also a member of the Christadelphian Church, asked for exemption on the grounds of conscience.

He was asked if he had any objection against doing war work at Ferranti's?
- I am not on war work.
But you have no objection against it?
- I would rather not do it.
Chairman: Would you give up your business before you would do it?
- I should have to do what my employer told me, so long as I can't leave.
Chairman: But you can leave. You absent yourself six weeks from work.
Mr. Jackson: But if you were ordered to do some other job in the shop connected with munitions you would do it rather than give up your work?
- That question places me in a very funny position.
Mr. Jackson: That is so. Yes or no?
- To my conscience I would rather not.
Chairman: It is not a question of rather. Give a specific statement one way or the other. I take it that if put upon direct war work you would do it rather than give up your position?
- I should have to do, sir.

The appeal was disallowed.

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[The 1911 census return quoted is speculative because the occupations of John at the census and John at the Tribunal were similar but don't match . The gasworks and Ferranti's faced each other across Oldham Road, Hollinwood, Oldham. The other information is based on the man in 1911 census.]

Born Oldham, 26 July 1875
Died Oldham, 10 March 1961
Buried Hollinwood Cemetery G6 - 86 with Betsy.

1911 census
14 Vine Street, Hollinwood, Oldham
With wife Betsy and son Thomas
Occ: Coal hewer, gasworks

1939 register
105 Mill Street, Macclesfield
Widowed, with son Thomas and daughter-in-law Alice
Occ: Cellar man

Contributed by Dorothy Bintley