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Henry "Harry" Stoddart (1887-1954?)


Conscientious objector from Ferryhill


Like many of the reports of Conscientious Objectors no name is mentioned in this Durham Advertiser (17 March 1916) article. However, it seems very likely that this is Harry Stoddart.

[The applicant claimed] “He was an Internationalist.
The Chairman: What sort of thing is that?
Applicant explained that as much as he believed in the brotherhood of men, he did not believe in war….He had faith the Germans would not hurt him, and objected to non-combatant service as it would be helping to restore a man to go back to what the soldiers called hell.
Mr D. W. Forster: You would like to escape this hell if you can.
Applicant: I am willing to stand the penalty whatever it is. It is means death I will stand it like a man.
A member: If he has such faith in the Germans that he cannot possibly be killed, he is just the man for the trenches.”

Harry Stoddart was forced to join the Non-Combatant Corps in spite of his objections. In May, he came before the magistrates for being an absentee. Although he argued that he should be allowed absolute exemption, he was fined 40s and imprisoned. His Non-Combatant Corps service papers then show that he attached to the Corps but was soon in trouble. In June 1916 the military authorities Court Martialled Harry for “conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline”. In spite being sentenced to 6 month’s hard labour, he seems to have been court martialled again 3 months later. This time for being absent without leave and for refusing to obey a military order. He eventually received a sentence of one year’s hard labour from the Court Martial and was sent to Wormwood Scrubs.

After the war Harry’s involvement in politics did not diminish. An article from the Sunderland Daily Echo (16 Oct 1950) records Harry’s retirement celebration which was attended by representatives from all 22 Trades Councils in the North East Federation of Trades Councils. At this gathering Harry claimed that socialism and trade unionism was in his blood. His parents had both been foundation members of the Independent Labour Party and he had been the agent for the Jarrow branch for the last 20 years. In that time he had been instrumental in arranging the Jarrow March with Ellen Wilkinson. One of the speeches at the event was given by A. E. Gompertz.

Civil Parish: Ferryhill

Birth date: 1887

Death date: [1954?]

Armed force/civilian: Civilian

Residence: 12 Hackworth Street, Dean Bank, Ferryhill

Organisation membership: No-Conscription Fellowship
Independent Labour Party

Employment: General Labourer for North Eastern Railways (1911 census)
Baker’s assistant (Service Records, 1916, Ancestry)

Family: Parents: Henry and Susannah Stoddart
Siblings: Robert Stoddart, Robina Stoddart (1911 census)

Military service:

Northern Company, Non-Combatant Corps

Gender: Male

Contributed by Durham County Record Office | Cyril Pearce