'THE GREAT WAR', 'THE WAR TO END WAR', 'WORLD WAR 1'
'What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
- Only the monstrous anger of the guns.'
from 'Anthem for Doomed Youth'
by Wilfred Owen
CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION IN WW1
Bethel Mellor Bethel Mellor was from Greenfield in Saddleworth. Nothing has been found in the Oldham papers about him. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ He has an entry on the Pearce List HERE. 4 October 1916 He appeared at Huddersfield Magistrates' Court having handed himself in to the police after being on the run for a few months. Fined 40 s and handed over to the military authorities. Enlisted into the 5th Northern Company Non Combatant Corps and posted to Rugeley Camp. 14 October 1916 Court Martial at Rugeley - 6 months with hard labour at Wormwood Scrubs. Transferred to Wandsworth Prison 22 January 1917 until receiving remission and released 15 March 1917. 28 March 1917 Court Martial at Morn Hill Camp, Winchester - 1 year with hard labour. 8 September 1917 Court Martial at Winchester - 1 year with hard labour in Winchester Prison. 8 July 1918 Court Martial at Winchester - 1 year with hard labour in Winchester Prison. By January 1919 Bethel Mellor had served four prison sentences and over two years in prison. Some sentences were commuted, in line with common practice. He was an absolutist who refused to accept work under the Home Office scheme. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Born 26 March 1894, Greenfield, Saddleworth 1911 census 14 October 1922 Bethel, his wife Carmen and son Michael emigrated to America and settled in California. Further children were born. Bethel became a teacher in an elementary school. Contributed by Dorothy Bintley |
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