Esh Winning Conscientious Objector: Abhors slaughter of fellowmen
Report in the Durham County Advertiser of Brandon Military Tribunal
Brandon Tribunal
Esh Winning Conscientious Objector
Abhors slaughter of fellowmen
An Esh Winning shot-firer made application on conscientious grounds. Applicant was utterly opposed to war as a means of settling international disputes, and he believed was to be wicked, and therefore wrong. He contended it could never be relied upon to decide between the claims of various disputants as to which was right and which was wrong. He had an unshakable belief in the doctrine of the common Fatherhood of God and in the brotherhood of Man. Therefore, though he had an intense love for his own land and people, he considered humanity to be a greater thing than mere nationality. The deliberate slaughter of his fellowman was abhorrent to him.
Captain Apperley [Military representative on the Tribunal]: Is that your wife with you?
Applicant: Yes.
Captain Apperley: I presume in case of invasion you would do nothing to keep the enemy from slaughtering your wife? Would you not take life in the event of anyone coming to take your wife’s life?
Applicant: I never felt like killing a fellowman yet, no matter what might happen.
Captain Apperley: You never know what you might do if you were put in the position of protecting your wife. You would be protection your wife if you joined the army. We don’t know but what there might be an invasion any day, and then you would stand by and look on and allow women to be killed because you don’t like to shed blood. That is a wicked thing for a man to say. No one wants to take life except in warfare, but you must support your country and your family. Have you any children?
Applicant: Yes.
The Chairman: Did you attest?
Applicant: No
The Chairman: Can you state any sacrifice you have made at any time because of your conscientious objection?
Applicant: I have sacrificed many a one’s friendship by the stand I have taken. I have contributed money as far as I possibly could to every movement opposed to war.
The Chairman: Can you name any?
Applicant: The No-conscription Fellowship.
Captain Apperley: What caused that injury to your head?
Applicant: That is an old accident in the mine of twenty-one years ago.
The Chairman: Assuming your conscientious objection was established this afternoon, would you be willing to undertake some form of national service other than your present work?
Applicant: I consider I am at national service: I am in an exempted trade. Anything of national utility which does not entail military work I will be willing to do.
The Chairman: Have you any objection to going in a mine sweeper?
Applicant: Yes.
The Chairman: Because there you would be saving life and probably losing your own? (Laughter)
Mr Luke: Have you always held these views?
Applicant: I should think for ten or twelve years I have tended in that direction.
The Chairman: Not just since the war began?
Applicant: No. I took a stand a good while before the war began. Any of the colliery officials can testify if they would as to my views.
Mr Bell: Would you be willing to go and get medically examined?
Applicant: I am not afraid of that. I don’t think they would have me for a soldier anyhow, and if they would I am determined not to be a soldier.
Captain Apperley: (addressing applicant’s wife) You quite realise you husband has had this conscientious objection?
Applicant’s wife: Yes, he has had it for the last ten years, every since I’ve known him.
Captain Apperley: Has he made your life happier since he has had them?
Applicant’s wife: Certainly not! (Laughter) I am quite willing for him to have them.
Temporary exemption was granted until August 13th, applicant being advised to get medically examined in the meantime.
Date: 30 June 1916
Where to find this: Durham County Record Office
Contributed by Durham County Record Office
