Harold Dewhurst,  Ervin Dewhurst,  Charles Farmer,  Gladstone Taylor

Failsworth Tribunal 7 July 1916

Reported Oldham Chronicle 8 July 1916

Harold Dewhurst (30)
textile designer, appeared before the tribunal to claim exemption on religious and ethical grounds. He wrote that he had been taught from childhood that to kill under any circumstances was contrary to the teaching of the ten commandments. He was prepared to take work of national importance but suggested that his present work was of importance.

Gladstone Taylor (38) Charles Farmer (25) and Ervin Dewhurst (36)
tinsmith, warehousemen and stock book clerk respectively presented appeals on similar grounds to that of Harold Dewhurst and the four were dealt with in the same way.
They were exempted from combatant service only and were advised to appeal to the Appeals Tribunal at Manchester where they would be advised as to the best method of getting suitable work of national importance.
They were told this would be the best course both for themselves and the Tribunal. They must go for work recommended by the Pelham Committee and they expressed themselves as quite willing to do so.

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Harold Dewhurst,  Ervin Dewhurst,  Charles Farmer,  Gladstone Taylor

Manchester Appeal Tribunal

Reported Oldham Chronicle 29 July 1916

Lieut Pool, military representative with the Failsworth Tribunal, said that the genuineness of the men’s conscience claim was vouched for by members of the tribunal. The tribunal had sent them to the Appeal Tribunal … with a view that they would be told what to do. Sir William Cobbett said the men must find work ... and it must be 30 miles or more from home.

Hearing was adjourned to August 15th so that in the interval the men might find work of the kind described.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Men ~~~~~~~~~~~

Gladstone Taylor

Born Failsworth 28 November 1877
Died Failsworth 7 February 1942

1911 census:
163 Minor Street, Failsworth
Married with wife Lena
Occ. Tinplate worker, gas meter works

1939 Register
72 Wrigley Head, Failsworth
With wife Lena, no children listed
Occ. Sheet iron worker

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Charles Farmer

Manchester Appeal Tribunal 17 May 1917
Reported Oldham Chronicle 19 May 1917

The Tribunal presided over by Sir William Cobbett reviewed the case of Charles Farmer (27) of Stevenson Street, Failsworth. He is a conscientious objector. It appeared that he left his employment on a farm at Smithy Field near Sheffield and went to work for a nut food company at Liverpool. He was ordered to leave Liverpool and within seven days to get work of national importance in Staffordshire or some other district. Otherwise he must report for non combatant service.

Born Failsworth abt 1891
Died ... Not found

1911 census:
16 Gas Street, Failsworth
Single with parents
Occ. Cop packer

1939 Register :
Not found

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Harold Dewhurst

Born Failsworth 12 October 1885
Died Rhyl, 16 March 1972

1911 census
25 Seymour Street, Hollinwood, Oldham
Single with parents
Occ. Designer (calico printers)

1939 Register:
Kilncroft, Tatchbury Road, Failsworth
Widower with son Alan b. 19 August 1914
Occ, Textile designer

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Ervin Dewhurst

Born Failsworth 4 September 1879
Died Failsworth 28 November 1969

1911 census:
179 Minor Street, Failsworth
Married 5 years to Ida, no children
Occ Commercial clerk with Co-op wholesale society

1939 register:
43 Stansfield Road, Failsworth
With wife Ida, no children listed
Occ. Departmental manager (Hardware)

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Contributed by Dorothy Bintley.