James Brierley

Royton Tribunal 11 April 1917
Oldham Chronicle 12 April 1917

Herbert Brierley appealed for a carter, James Brierley (18) who was claimed to be the main man of the business. He was also the "Manchester man."

The Chairman: What do you mean by the Manchester man? Does he do some distribution in Manchester?
Mr Brierley: No. He looks after collecting the money. You have heard the term "Manchester man" applied in such cases.
Chairman: I have never heard the term. I thought he had business in Manchester.
Mr Brierley: It's a common expression.
Brierley junior, the man appealed for, preferred a conscientious objection in which he stated that he believed that it was wrong that life should be taken. Asked how long he had held those views, he said since November last. He was a member of the Socialist Sunday School. He had always been taught that it was wrong to take life.
Mr J Smethurst: How long have you held these views? Have they come since the war started?
Mr Brierley senior said that the lad was only 15 years old when war broke out.

Claim disallowed.

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Manchester Appeal Tribunal 10 May 1917
Reported Oldham Chronicle 12 May 1917

Several appeals against the decision of the Royton Tribunal were heard at Manchester on Thursday …

… Herbert Brierley, formerly a botanical brewer, had put in an appeal for his son (18) single, who also claimed exemption on the ground that he is a conscientious objector. The youth said he believed it was wrong to take human life.
Judge Mellor: Then you had better go to non-combatant service.
Brierley: I cannot accept non-combatant service.
Judge Mellor: very well but we will send you there.

The youth was ordered to go into non-combatant service.

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Royton Police Court 29 May 1917
Oldham Chronicle 1 June 1917

At Royton Police Court on Tuesday morning James Brierley (18) of 14 Old Edge Lane, Royton, was charged before Messrs John Stansfield and James Schofield with being an absentee under the Military Service Act. Brierley, who had given himself up at the police station on Monday evening, should have reported on May 18th. He told the magistrates that he had a conscientious objection to the taking of human life which he considered sacred.

He was fined two guineas and remanded to await an escort.

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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

Taken from court to Ashton Barracks.

31 May 1917 Involved in a brutality case. Had his head banged twice on a table for refusing to sign for his personal property. This was done by a sergeant at Ashton Barracks in the presence of five other soldiers.

1 June 1917 Posted to Oswestry No 6 Company No Combatant Corps attached to the Welsh Fusiliers. Court martialled - 6 months with hard labour.

8 June 1917 Sent to Wormwood Scrubs

31 July 1917 Accepted work under the Home Office Scheme, sent to Wakefield Work Centre.

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Born Walmsley, Lancashire, 6 March 1899
Died Bury, 22 June 1964

1911 census
176 Oldham Road, Longsight, Royton
Single with parents, younger brother and a servant
Occ; School

1939 register
171 Radcliffe Road, Bury
With wife Ada V., no children listed
Occ: Greengrocer, hawker and dealer

Contributed by Dorothy Bintley