David Aston

Oldham Tribunal 3 July 1916
Reported Oldham Chronicle 8 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 …

… David Aston, of Milford-avenue, Oldham, an electrical meter erector employed by Messrs. Ferranti, Ltd., also a member of the Christadelphian Church, presented his claim for exemption on religious and conscientious grounds.
Councillor Frith asked him if he had any objection to non-combatant service. He replied that he had, because it was a military affair.

Councillor Frith: You are against working on munitions?
- Not necessarily so.
Councillor Frith: For what reason?
- It is not a military affair.
Councillor Frith: But Ferranti's is a controlled firm, and under the Government?
- It doesn't come under the heading of military. It has no military jurisdiction.
Chairman: If at your works you were put on specific war material you would do it?
- Yes.
The appeal was disallowed and Aston accordingly sent to combatant service, although, of course, there is the right to appeal against the decision.

In Aston's case and the following one [John Weeder] the tribunal did not see the consistency of a conscience that objected to non-combatant service and allowed of working on munitions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Born Dudley, Staffordshire, 12 October 1877
Died Oldham, 28 February 1940

1911 census
5 Windsor Street, Failsworth
With wife Edith, no children
Occ: Electrical armature maker, Electrical meter makers

1939 register
27 Lynton Avenue, Oldham
With wife Edith, no children listed
Occ: Clerk m**chine [?]

Contributed by Dorothy Bintley