Person

On 14 June 1916 Wilfred Downing appeared before the Darlington Military Tribunal. The certificate of exemption that he was issued stated:

“The exemption is conditional, and to remain in force so long as the man in question continues to be employed as a stonehand.”

On 27 July 1917 Wilfred received a standard letter from the Tribunal informing him that his exemption had been revoked. Just over a month later, on 29 August he received a further letter, making a date for his appeal before the Tribunal. Another standard letter, dated 30 August, stated that his application for exemption “had not been granted” and that he would be called up at a date after 29 September.

Wilfred Downing was called up on 23 October 1917. He did his best to explain that he had conscientious objections serving in the armed forces, but that he would be willing to served with the Royal Army Medical Corps. He was drafted to the 3rd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers and required to present himself at their camp at Scott’s House, Boldon. Once at the camp he was arrested for failing to obey an order when told to pick up ammunition. He was imprisoned in the guard house at Scott’s House camp while he awaited court martial. He managed to smuggle letters out of the camp to his fiancee, Evelyn Cain. Understandably, his letters are full of boredom and frustration, pleas for letters and schemes for Evelyn to come and visit him.

Wilfred Downing’s court martial was heard on 12 November 1917. Wilf was marched in front of the officers presiding and he made a statement which concentrated on his deeply held religious views:

“I believe all war to be futile, immoral, and contrary to the teaching and spirit of Jesus Christ”

He also stated that he was willing to undertake non-combatant work and that he would gladly word for the Royal Army Medical Corps or be drafted into the Non-Combatant Corps.

His defence was rejected and he was sentenced to twelve months detention. For the next two weeks he was unsure as to whether he would be imprisoned by the military or the civil authority. On 26 November he was transported from Boldon to London to begin his sentence at Wormwood Scrubs. Wilf had managed to get word to Evelyn and she arranged for his friends and family to be on the platform at Darlington to see his train to London pass through.

Wilf appeared before the Central Tribunal at Wormwood Scrubs. Here, on 11 January it was decided that he would be transferred to Knutsford prison which was used as a work camp for conscientious objectors (COs). It seems that Wilf enjoyed the camaraderie of life at Knutsford. His letters to Evelyn describe a water fight and how he has so much to learn from the other political and religious COs. Wilf collected a number of play bills of the entertainments that COs arranged in the prison. However, Knutsford had to be closed in May 1918. Local ill-will at the housing of the prisoners at Knutsford erupted into violence and inmates were transferred elsewhere.

Wilf moved from Knutsford on 20 May 1918 and was sent to Wakefield prison. However, his letters also detail violence that the COs experienced in this location and it seems that his first few hours in the town were spent in the cellar of a Quaker family. On his way to the prison he was told that a mob was on the streets of Wakefield and he was forced to seek shelter in the Quaker’s house. The windows of the house were smashed by the crowd.

Once at Wakefield he was quickly offered work with a printer, John Jennings, in Gloucester. From his letters he seems to have made his way to Gloucester on 24 May. It isn’t clear how long he stayed in the city, but Wilf signed a letter in February 1919 stating that he understood the conditions of his being granted “exceptional employment”.

Wilf and Evelyn married in 1920. They lived in Darlington where they brought up their family and where Wilf continued the interest in amateur dramatics that he seems to have developed at Knutsford. Wilf died in 1965 and Evelyn died a year later.

Civil Parish: Darlington

Birth date: 14-Oct-1891

Death date: 1965

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 67 Charles Street, Darlington (1901 census)
54 Shildon Street, Darlington (1911 census)
13 Russell Street, Gloucester (1918, family letter)
43 Newlands Road, Darlington (1939 Register)

Employment: Printer (1911 census)
Stonehand (1917, Exemption certificate)
Printer overseer (1939 register)

Family: Mother: Annabella Downing (born Scotland 1849)
Siblings: Alfred Downing, John Downing, Donald Downing, Annabella Downing (1901 census)
Wife: Evelyn Cain (married 1920)

Gender: Male

Contributed by Dave and Roz Downing | Durham County Record Office |