Herbert Whitehead

Oldham Tribunal 3 July 1916
Reported Oldham Chronicle 08 July 1916

Several Oldham men appealed to the Oldham Tribunal on Monday afternoon for exemption from service on the ground that they hold a conscientious objection against war and against having connection with the war …

… Herbert Whitehead, a minder of South Hill Street, employed by Leesbrook Spinning Co., is also exempted from service as being in a reserved occupation. He claimed exemption on religious grounds.
Councillor Schofield: If you were asked to spin yarn for war work, would you spin it? - One is not asked that question at all.
Councillor Schofield: Would you do it? - No, certainly not.
Mr. Isaac Crabtree in a letter addressed to Mr. Whitehead : "In answer to your request, I have known you over twenty years and can with confidence state that you have always held the objection against war which you are expressing today. Whilst my sympathies are not with the conscientious objector, yet, to speak truthfully of you, I must state that ever since you were able to express yourself you have always held the views you express today against the war."
Appellant was granted conditional exemption as being in a reserved occupation.

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Salford Hundred Appeal 22 August 1917
Reported Oldham Chronicle 23 August 1917

A similar course was adopted in the case of Herbert Whitehead of 18 South Hill-street, Oldham, a spinner, married Class A. [the previous case, Ernest Hill, was adjourned for a fortnight to allow him to get work of national importance]. He said he was a conscientious objector.

The Chairman: You have the option of non-combatant service. You would not like that?
Whitehead: No.
The Chairman: I thought you would say that.

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He has an entry on the Pearce List HERE.
The Pearce List of over 17500 WW1 Conscientious Objectors can be found on the Imperial War Museum's website HERE

20 October 1916 Arrested, appeared before magistrates, handed over to the military.

28 October 1916 Attested at Ashton under Lyne, posted to Park Hall Camp, Oswestry,
4th Western Company Non Combatant Corps

26 October 1917 Court Martial at Oswestry, sentenced to 6 months with hard labour.
29 October 1917 Sent to Wormwood Scrubs.
20 December 1917 Released from prison, accepted work under Home Office Scheme, sent to Knutsford Work Centre

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Not found 1911 census

Contributed by Dorothy Bintley