Reginald Joseph Mounsey (1884 - 1962)
Conscientious objector from Blackwell
Reginald Joseph Mounsey was born in 1884 to Edward Backhouse Mounsey and Rachel Ann Mounsey (nee Fryer). He had four siblings .
He was educated at the Leighton Park Quaker School in Reading.
On the 1911 Census return, he was listed at living with his mother at Blackwell Hill, Darlington. He was listed as single, and his occupation was given as coal owner.
In the 1914 Kellys Directory, Reginald Mounsey was listed as being the Darlington Hospital and Dispensary Treasurer.
He was a member of the Darlington Meeting House of the Society of Friends. He was frequently mentioned for the period 1914 – 1918 in the Minute Books for the Darlington Preparative Meeting.
In March 1916, Reginald Mounsey appeared before a Military Service Tribunal in Darlington. He had appealed on the grounds of business and being a conscientious objector and was granted absolute exemption. The decision was appealed by the Military. An appeal on 29/3/16 confirmed an Absolute Exemption and Work of National Importance exemption. He was then working as the assistant manager of the North Bitchburn Coal Company Colliery.
The July 1916 issue of the ‘Leightonian’, the school magazine for Leighton Park Quaker School, Reading, showed that Reginald Mounsey had been listed as a conscientious objector.
Reginald Mounsey married Mary Cecilia Pease in Darlington in 1921.
According to the List of Burials for the Friends (Quaker) Burial Ground in Darlington, he died on 25/3/1962. His burial site is given the reference 474A.
References:
– Leighton Park School, 1901 Census Return, RG13, Piece 1151, Folio 55, page 12
– 1911 Census Return, RG14, Piece 29500
– Darlington Quaker Minute Books, Durham County Records Office SF/Da/PM 1/12 and 1/13
– Military Service Tribunal, Imperial War Museum, https://livesofthefirstworldwar.org/lifestory/7649521#facts
-“Leightonian” School magazines: http://www.worldwar1schoolarchives.org/leighton-park/
Civil Parish: Blackwell
Birth date: 1884
Death date: 1962-Mar-25
Armed force/civilian: Civilian
Residence: Blackwell Hill, Blackwell, Near Darlington
Education: Leighton Park School
Religion: Quaker
Family: Mother: Rachel Ann Mounsey
Wife: Maria Cecilia Pease (married 1921)
Gender: Male
Contributed by Jane Wilson | Cyril Pearce
