Add New Content


Please log in or register to add new content.

Login

Report Inaccuracies


John Edward "Jack" Gilliland (1877 -1951)


Conscientious objector from Chester-le-Street


“At the age of 12 years, I had to go into the Mine and was there until I turned 37 years. You know somewhat the public service I rendered in my old district. I have only endeavoured to serve my country in the only permanent way by bringing my character and intelligence into the market place of life to make the earth a purer place to live in. I have never raised a finger to aid recruiting, because I could not ask others to do, what I believe to be contrary to Divine Government, and have run the risk of losing a good berth through my attitude to war.
I have come up as a “C” “O”, under the General Compulsion Act and will have to go to prison for conscience sake. The whole of my income will be stopped. I have five children to keep and stiff rent to pay and coals to buy; whereas if I could conscientiously have taken up ambulance work I would have been guaranteed full salary, minus Army Allowance by the D[urham] M[iners] A[ssociation].
I am anxious to demonstrate to the Tribunal that I am sincere in my convictions and am requested to get unimpeachable evidence of my attitude to war before August 1914. You are in a position to supply that data and I would be deeply obligated if you would forward me a reference to that effect.”

These are the words of Jack Gilliland. He wrote to Arthur Henderson who was Minister of Education in Asquith’s coalition government (and was later a Nobel Peace Prize winner). Henderson was the Member of Parliament for Barnard Castle and he and Jack had been political comrades before the war. The Durham County Advertiser report of Jack’s Tribunal hearing stated that the Tribunal had received a reply from Henderson:

“He said although he disagreed with Mr Gilliland on this subject, he was positive from long personal acquaintance with him that he was absolutely sincere in his views, and he had not just adopted them to escape from military service. He had informed Mr Gilliland that he need not apply to the Tribunal at all, but that as a political agent he could be exempted…”

Jack’s appeal to his friend seemed to persuade the Tribunal:

“In view of the letter from Mr Henderson, it was decided to grant exemption without hearing the applicant.”

John Edward Gilliland was granted conditional exemption by the Chester-le-Street Local Military Tribunal, on condition that he retained his job as political agent.

Civil Parish: Chester le Street

Birth date: 1877

Death date: 1951-Jan-5

Armed force/civilian: Civilian

Residence: Flag Row, Sunniside, Tow Law (1911 census)
8 Fife Avenue, Chester-le-Street (Newcastle Journal 07 July 1916)

Religion: Primitive Methodist

Organisation membership: Crook Co-Operative Society Committee, 1913 (“History of the Crook and Neighbourhood Co-Operative Corn Mill, Flour and Provision Society” By Edward Lloyd 1916)
Crook Urban District Council member

Employment: Coal miner, hewer (1911 census)
Labour registration agent, Chester-le-Street Ward (Newcastle Journal 07 July 1916)

Family: Wife: Ada Isabel Gilliland
Children: Vera Gilliland, Rena Gilliland, Gladys Gilliland, John Gilliland, Ada Gilliland (1911 census)
Brother: James Gilliland

Gender: Male

Contributed by Durham County Record Office | Bill Richardson