Frank Branwood

Oldham Tribunal 8 March 1916
Reported Oldham Chronicle 9 March 1916

Frank Branwood, of 12 Marlborough-street Oldham, a machine worker of the Hartford Spindle Works and belonging to the Salvation Army, said that he had never been on munitions work and would not do it.
Captain Almond: I understand the Salvation Army is in favour of the war?
- No they are not.
Captain Almond: They are not against it?
- They want to get men near to heaven, not to send them to hell.
Captain Almond: Are those Oldham lads who have gone to war going to hell?
- No, I would not like to say that.
Captain Almond: No I am sure their mothers would not like to hear you say it.
Branwood said that it appeared from the newspapers that war was hell.
Councillor Frith suggested to him that lots of Oldham men in the Salvation Army had been recruited for the war.
The man said he thought it was for ambulance work.
Councillor Frith asked him if the Bible said that he was not to save an injured brother.
- If you help to save any man you be only sending him back to war.
Councillor Frith: Does your religious teaching tell you not to help a brother in distress?
- They tell us to help brothers in distress but not when they go back to take life.
Councillor Frith pointed out that many of the sick and wounded would never go back to the war. Would he not do what he could to help make them fit for industrial life?
- We might be sending them back to fight.
Councillor Frith: Just for the possibility, would you leave them to bleed to death?
- I believe I can help persons in the town without going abroad.
Councillor Schofield: You would let a man bleed to death?
- In that case I would.

He was put in the non combatant section.

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Born Oldham, 19 April 1881
Died Oldham, 13 November 1956

1911 census:
Frank Branwood, single, age 29, born in Oldham.
Living with widowed mother and 4 brothers.
Living at 85 Rochdale Road, Oldham
Occupation - Labourer textile (Iron)

1939 register
17 Percival Street, Oldham
With wife Rose and one son
Occ: Firewood and firelighter dealer

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[This man is called Bramold in a report of the same Tribunal in the Oldham Standard but that is almost certainly a mistake. There is nobody with the surname Bramold in the 1911 census of England and Wales]

Frank Bramold

Oldham Tribunal 8 Match 1916
Reported Oldham Standard 11 March 1916

Frank Bramold, engaged by Messrs Platt Bros., said he belonged to the Salvation Army and had a conscientious objection. He was closely questioned as to the part the army is taking in the war but maintained that was only appearing for himself.
Councillor Frith said that many a score of Salvation Army men had gone from Oldham.
Questioned closely applicant said he would not help a soldier because he might go back to fight. In that case he would let the man bleed to death …

… The Tribunal decided that all the conscientious objectors should be put in the non combatant class.

Contributed by Dorothy Bintley