Henry Mellor

Oldham Tribunal 13 March 1916
Reported Oldham Chronicle 14 March 1916

Perhaps the most amusing incident of the whole of the public sessions of the Tribunal occurred when the adjourned application of Henry Mellor of 34 Trevor-street, Oldham, came up again. He was employed in the warehouse at Messrs Hoyle and Jackson's mill and had formerly been a fitter at Platt's. When called into the room he walked slowly and with an appearance of feebleness to the chair placed for applicants.

The Mayor asked him: Aren't you so well?
- No, I am upset.
You are not frightened of coming here are you?
- Well, it has a little bit to do with it.
Councillor Schofield: Have you something the matter with you physically? You walked into the room very quietly and slowly.
- No answer
Captain Almond: He is upset.
The Town Clerk: The reason given in his application for postponement is that he is opposed to war. Are you a conscientious objector?
- Yes.
The Mayor: You don't want to go to war?
- No.
Is it the war that has upset you?
- It has partly something to do with it. I have never been properly the same since it started.
Have you been under the doctor?
- Yes, I went to see him before Christmas. I don't care how soon it is over or else I shall be over. I don't care much which way.
Mr Jackson: Oh don't talk like that man.
Captain Almond: You will care, you know, if you get in the firing line. It will soon be over.
The Mayor: You must look on the bright side of things.
Captain Almond: Verdun has not fallen you know.
The Mayor: You don't think we're going to lose do you?
- I hope not. Let me get to the Kaiser and I'll soon get it over. (Laughter)
Captain Almond: What would you do to him?
The Mayor: You wouldn't hurt him?
- My word but I would hurt him!
Would you kill him?
- Well put that on one side. He has caused me a lot of inconvenience. He has caused a lot of people inconvenience. He is the very devil incarnate! (Hear, hear)
But you don't want to go?
- No.
Are your nerves shattered?
- Yes I believe they are. If they were all like me there would be no war.
What doctor have you been to?
- My panel doctor.
Captain Almond: You want to ask him for some pluck pills. (Laughter)
Applicant: I think you should begin with such as the Kaiser. It is not right that there should be all this slaughter for the sake of him.
Captain Almond: they can't get at him.
Applicant: Well he should be put where he can be catched. (Laughter)
Captain Almond: There are about twelve million men after him.
Councillor Schofield: And if they catch him, I suppose they will only put him in some nice castle.
After further conversation the Mayor dismissed the man with a word of advice not to get downhearted and, added his Worship, "I have no doubt it will have done you a lot of good coming here this evening. (Laughter)

The application was disallowed.

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No good match found in 1911 census.

Contributed by Dorothy Bintley