Herbert Buckley

Oldham Tribunal 5 July 1916
Reported Oldham Chronicle 8 July 1916

The Oldham Tribunal on Wednesday afternoon considered and dealt with several claims for absolute exemption from service sent in by local men on the ground of a conscientious objection against any form of military service …

… Herbert Buckley (30 years), of Savoy Street, a textile machine fitter employed by Messrs. Platt Bros. and Co. Ltd., wrote that having made a full consecration of his powers to God, and having sworn allegiance to Him, the King of kings, he could not undertake to do service in connection with the present conflict. He is a member of the IBSA. Seeing that all kingdoms had to come down previous to the setting up of Christ's kingdom, he could not in any way assist in keeping them up, for that would be contrary to God's view.

Understanding that he would be exempt as being in a reserved occupation, and that he would have the right of appeal if the reservation was taken off by some future decision of the Government, the appellant withdrew his appeal for exemption on conscience grounds.

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Oldham Tribunal 13 February 1918
Reported Oldham Chronicle 14 February 1918

At the Oldham Tribunal on Wednesday the exemption granted to Herbert Buckley (31) married, of 57 Savoy-street, textile machine fitter at Platt's, came up for review on the application of the National service representative.

At his appeal Buckley asked for absolute exemption on the ground that, "having made a full consecration of all my powers to God and having sworn allegiance to Him who is King of kings, I cannot under any conditions undertake to do anything in reference to the present conflict. My conscience will not allow me to do any injury or violence to anyone. I am a member of the International Bible Students' Association and I enclose extracts from studies in the Scriptures, also out official magazine. Our Lord Jesus and the Apostles took no part in wars etc., but simply preached of the coming Kingdom and this is what I must follow. Seeing that all kingdoms have to come previous to the setting up of Christ's Kingdom, I cannot in any way assist in keeping them up, as this would be contrary to God's will and that I cannot do."

The man was accompanied by Mr Asa Schofield, local secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, who, however, said that he did not come to defend the conscientious part of the man's claim but the trade part. The Tribunal had given this man conditional exemption for so long as he remained in his present occupation and he had done that. There was a scarcity of fitters in the town.
The Chairman (Alderman Greaves) said that it seemed to him that if they were wanting fitters it was better that he should stay at fitting than go to prison. This man's protection card had been taken away and he had been released by the Ministry of Munitions and, as he was only exempt on conscience grounds, the case was being reviewed.
Councillor Schofield, referring to the conscientious objection, said that the man could scarcely get away from war work, being the textile machinery that he was employed on was used for making khaki. Everyone in the country was in the war in some way.
Mr Eaton (National Service representative) said the man's protection card had been withdrawn.
Councillor Schofield pointed out that fitters were needed for munitions and the ordinary work of the country had to be put on one side. There were plenty of fitters in the country and work they were doing was being put into stock.
Mr Asa Schofield said that depended on what sort of work they were on.
The Chairman said that he got exemption because he was in a certified occupation.
Mr Asa Schofield said he was in a certified occupation now if he enlisted as a war munition worker.
Councillor Schofield: But that would not do for him.
Mr Asa Schofield said that he had nothing to do with that part of the case.
Councillor Heywood asked whether the man would take up munition work if required.
Applicant: I would not say I wouldn't, I couldn't.
Mr Mellor: That means you wouldn't.
Councillor Schofield said that woollen machinery was used for war purposes.
Applicant: When I have made machinery it has nothing to do with me what they use it for.
Councillor Schofield: You might as well say that with regard to munitions. You would not shoot the munitions, The men need clothing as well as munitions.
The Chairman: Do you object to non-combatant service?
- Yes.
Mr J E Wood: You object to do anything.
Mr Faulkner suggested ship building but the applicant objected that that was practically munitions work.
Councillor Schofield said that practically all the woollen machinery that had been made for a long time had been for army or Government work.
Mr Faulkner: If you are willing to make woollen machinery and don't mind what it is used for afterwards, why not work on ships that may be used for carrying food?
Applicant: They might be used in the war.
Councillor Schofield repeated that the woollen machinery was used for clothing for the soldiers, so the man's own statement destroyed his argument.
In reply to the Chairman, applicant said that if the Tribunal could put him on work of national importance but not direct Government work, that would be all right. He could not go against work of national importance because he had been doing it all the time.
Mr Asa Schofield said the man might be put on mercantile shipping. The only point would be that when he went into a shipyard he would have to do what he was told without knowing what it was for.
Mr Wood asked the man whether, after what he had heard said about the use of woollen machinery for soldiers' clothing, he was willing to stay in his present work whether it went to army work or not.
Mr Faulkner asked whether he had made enquiries as to whether it was doing Government work.
Applicant said he was told that it was not.
Councillor Schofield said that the Government were the principal buyers of woollen goods.
Mr Asa Schofield said the man's present work was not defined as Government work and the Government would not give protection for it.

The applicant and Mr Asa Schofield retired whilst the Tribunal discussed the case and on being recalled into the room they were informed that if Mr Schofield could find him employment in a shipyard he would be allowed 21 days to do so, failing which he would be ordered for non-combatant service.

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Oldham Tribunal 13 March 1918
Reported Oldham Chronicle 16 March 1918

The case of Herbert Buckley (30) married, an Oldham conscientious objector came before the Oldham Tribunal on Wednesday afternoon on review.

When before the Tribunal in February the hearing was adjourned so that he might get work of national importance. He was at that time employed at Messrs. Platt Bros & Co. as a textile machine fitter. Mr Asa Schofield of the A.S.E. now told the Tribunal that Buckley is employed at the electric power station at Newcastle which gives power and light for the munitions and ship building work on the Tyne.

Councillors Schofield and Frith commented on the man's refusal to accept non-combatant service with the army yet he was now on work on which the war work on the Tyne was dependent.

The hearing was adjourned for one month so that in the interval the man may get a trade protection card.

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Born Oldham, 7 July 1885
Died Oldham, 25 January 1919
Buried 30 January 1919, Chadderton Cemetery, grave G2/94

1911 census
57 Savoy Street, Oldham
With wife Hilda and widowed mother
Occ: Cotton gin fitter

1939 register
Deceased

Contributed by Dorothy Bintley