William Crossley Haslam

Middleton Tribunal 23 March 1916
Reported Oldham Chronicle 24 March 1916

The first conscientious objectors to appear before the Middleton Recruiting Tribunal attended the sitting on Thursday … In each case notice of appeal was given …

… William Crossley Haslam, a stripper and grinder at Neva Mill, who lives in Phyllis-street, Middleton, was the next conscientious applicant. His application form was signed by his sister Bertha and in it he said warfare was against Christian doctrine and he was opposed to the Military Service Act, as they could not crush militarism by those means. He also considered he was doing work of national importance and had a sister and mother dependent on him. He was a Sunday school teacher.

The Mayor asked him why his sister had signed the application and he admitted she had done it by mistake.
The Mayor: How long have you been a Sunday schoolteacher?
- On and off for 14 months.
On what grounds is warfare against Christian doctrine?
- I think it is absolutely wrong for me to kill.
You do not say that on your application?
- I appeal on that ground.

In answer to further questions he said he was not answerable for what Christian Churches did. In the Sermon on the Mount Christ said it was absolutely wrong to kill. He quoted the verse, "You have heard it said and eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth but I say unto you that whosoever shall kill his brother shall be in danger of the judgement."
The Mayor: What has that to do with warfare?
Applicant attempted to quote one or two other verses but had apparently forgotten them and this caused the Mayor to remark: You have not learned your lesson well at all.

The Mayor remarked that although the applicant was convinced that war was wrong, he did not hesitate to put in a claim about his mother and sister being dependent on him. "You do not seem to have much confidence in your conscience," added the Mayor.
Applicant: I am not against non combatant service, I have tried to enlist in the medical corps of the Naval Division. This branch is well paid and that is why I have tried to get into it.
The Mayor: You are making your case worse by saying that.
- My mother and sister are dependent on me and it stands to reason I want as much as possible.
The Mayor: Yes but you are cutting the ground from under your feet in regard to the first part of your claim.
- I don't agree with you.
Mr Ashworth: If you got 4d per day for not taking a life and 8d a day for taking life, would you take the position at 8d?
- No.
In answer to Captain Clegg applicant said he was a Congregationalist.
The Mayor: What was your idea of Christian doctrine before the war started?
- Just the same as now.
Is it not a fact that you are one of those young fellows who believed before the war started that all good had gone out of religion and that it was out of date?
- No.

The application was refused and he was ordered to join his group.

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Manchester Appeals Tribunal 17 April 1916
Reported Oldham Chronicle 21 April 1916

Men from Royton and Middleton who desired exemption from military service came before a section of the Appeals tribunal at Manchester on Monday …

… William Crossley Haslam, in addition to a conscientious objection against service, urged that family hardship would ensue if he was taken from home. "I am just in the same position as a married man," he said.

The hearing was adjourned until June 30th. The Chairman told him that the adjournment had no reference to his conscientious objection but only on account of his family difficulties. He might come before the tribunal again at the end of June concerning those difficulties. The tribunal would not hear him again on his claim for exemption on conscientious grounds.

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He joined the Royal Navy in 23 May 1916 and served on HMS Vivid I until 17 August 1916. This was not a ship but the naval barracks in Devonport. Vivid I was the Seamanship, Signalling and Telegraphy School. He then transferred to the Special Trawler Reserve, Service Number SD 5202, until demobbed in January 1919. (click on image to view)

Also known as the Royal Navy Reserve (Trawlers) the men served on board trawlers fitted out as minesweepers for mine clearance operations at home and abroad. The RNR(T) suffered heavy casualties..

On 23 July 1919 William emigrated to Canada with his mother and younger sisters Bertha and Alice. His father had emigrated just before the war and they went out to join him in Ontario.

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Born Chadderton, 1 September 1895 (1911 census states Middleton)
Died Not found

1911 census
437 Oldham Road, Middleton
Single with parents and siblings
Occ: Little piecer in cotton mill

1939 register:
Had emigrated to Canada

Contributed by Dorothy Bintley