Joseph English

Oldham Tribunal 8 March 1916
Reported Oldham Chronicle 11 March 1916

More claims for exemption from service on the ground of a conscientious objection against war service were heard before the Oldham Tribunal on Wednesday …

… Thomas Taylor, James Henry Taylor, William Taylor and Joseph English, all moulders employed by Messrs Asa Lees and Company, and all conscientious objectors said they were on textile work and not on munitions.

Asked what they would do if put on munitions work, English replied that they would have to consult their consciences. They could not possibly say beforehand what they would do

Councillor Frith: Surely you can consult your consciences on a matter like that at a moment's notice?
English: We are not there to ask whether we are on munitions or not. We are there to do as we are told.
They voiced the standing objection to non-combatant service, that by so serving they would be only helping to send soldiers back into the fighting lines.
Councillor Schofield: Then why make munitions to kill other people? You seem to be willing to do that.
One of them replied that they could not choose their work and another said that if the works belonged to him, no hand grenades or other munitions would be made there.

Councillor Frith: I state this openly and I don't care who knows it, that, in my opinion, a man who is prepared to do work which will enable another man to take life cannot claim to be a conscientious objector. Such a man cannot have a conscience.

The men's claim for exemption on the ground of conscience was disallowed but being in a reserved occupation, there was no other course open but to grant them exemption conditional on remaining at their present occupation.

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Note: The only two men called Joseph English living in Oldham at the 1911 census were uncle and nephew living at 41 Garnet Street, Derker, iron founder and apprentice iron founder.
This address was about a 10 minute walk from Asa Lees.
Both were of an age eligible for conscription in 1916.

Contributed by Dorothy Bintley