Leonard Widdell

Oldham Tribunal 3 July 1916
Reported Oldham Chronicle 6 July 1916
Reported Oldham Chronicle 8th July 1916

Of 262 Copsterhill Road¹, Oldham, a fitter at Dronsfield Bros. Atlas Works. [Manufacturers of textile machinery]

Member of the International Bible Students Association and held beliefs which prevented him bearing arms. The teaching of Christ formed the nucleus of his conscience - peace not strife, love not hatred, friendliness not enmity.
In answer to the Mayor he said he had refused to do munitions work at Dronsfield's.

[Widdell's mother, Eliza Ann Widdell was stated at the 1911 census to be a Colporteur working for a Bible society. She was a widow living with her parents and sons Zephaniah (27) and Leonard (23). Her father, also Zephaniah, was an army pensioner.]

The tribunal decided he must take non-combatant service.

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Born Oldham 30 January 1888
Died Oldham 31 May 1933
Buried Greenacres Cemetery Ref.G13 - 1

1911 census:
10 Minton Street, Oldham
Single with widowed mother and grandparents.
Occ. Textile fitter in an iron works.

1939 Deceased

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¹ Other COs on Copsterhill Road
252 Copsterhill Road - Brothers Alfred, John and William Parker
248 Copsterhill Road - Alfred Charlesworth (their first cousin)

Contributed by Dorothy Bintley