William Wolstenholme

Oldham Police Court 10 May 1916
Reported Oldham Chronicle 13 May 1916

At the Oldham Police Court on Wednesday morning William Wolstenhulme [sic], a labourer of 19 Percival-street, Oldham, was charged with being an absentee under the Military Service Act. He was served with a notice calling him upon April 19th and failed to respond.

Defendant said he had a conscientious objection to any form of military service.

The Clerk (Mr Hesketh Booth): Well, you appealed to the tribunal here, didn't you?
- No,
The Chairman (Mr F Houghton): You could have done.
The Clerk: Why didn't you appeal to the Tribunal to get exemption?
- Because I do not believe in any man judging my conscience.
The Clerk: Well I don't know what you are going to do. You are taking up a peculiar stand. Do you admit you have had a notice given you?
- I have had a notice but not in my right name.
What is your name?
Defendant said the name had been spelt wrongly, it should have been Wolstenholme.
The Clerk said that was not a big thing. He could spell his name as he wished. He also pointed out that the magistrates had to enforce the law.

Defendant said that under the Act conscientious objectors were exempt.
The Clerk: Yes, but you have to appeal, the Act of Parliament provides for that and you say you have never done it. As it is, nobody knows whether you had a conscientious objection or not. If you do not appeal nobody knows about your conscience.

A fine of 40s was imposed and he was ordered to be handed over to the military.

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He has an entry on the Pearce List of over 17500 WW1 Conscientious Objectors

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Not found 1911 census.

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Contributed by Dorothy Bintley