Herbert Whitehead

Oldham Tribunal 2 October 1916
Reported Oldham Chronicle 7 October 1916

Herbert Whitehead (35 years) and married who lives at Springhead came before the Oldham Tribunal on Monday on an appeal put in by the Albert Mill Company to retain his services and he also had sent in a claim for exemption as a conscientious objector. He is employed at the mill as a winding, beaming and warping overlooker. In his personal appeal he wrote that he claimed exemption of religious grounds and on account of his conscientious objection to warfare. His wife also is an invalid. He is connected with the International Bible Students Association.

Whitehead said that he had enquired twice in June and July at the Town Hall and the recruiting Office and was told that he was in a reserved occupation. He had not sent an appeal until recently and had not attested, accordingly he had been called up as not attested. However he added that he would not have attested in any case.

Captain Almond: You are claiming on the ground of conscience but you are willing to shelter behind a reserved occupation.
Whitehead said that he was willing to take up work of national importance but he claimed that his work on the manufacture of hospital and military supplies was work of national importance.
Captain Almond: What sacrifices have you made?
- I could have gone up to Newcastle on munitions work.
Captain Almond: That would not have been in accord with your conscience would it?

The decision on the employer's claim was that the man was exempt as being in a reserved occupation.

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

Born Birkenhead, c 1882 [from 1911 census]
Died Not found

1911 census
40 Yates Street, Oldham
With wife Ellen, no children listed
Occ: Winding and beaming overlooker

1939 register
Not found

[Albert Mill (tribunal) was on Cromford Street, Oldham which meets Yates Street (1911 census) at right angles. Age and occupation match so this is almost certainly the same man who had moved to the Springhead area by 1916.]

Contributed by Dorothy Bintley