Alfred Parker

Oldham Tribunal 21 March 1917
Reported Oldham Chronicle 24 March 1917

Alfred Parker (18) single, manager of the Copster hill-road branch shop of Messrs S Mellor and Sons, Market Place, Oldham appealed before the Oldham Tribunal on Wednesday afternoon for absolute exemption from military service on conscientious grounds. He wrote that war was futile and wrong. War could not settle anything and on no account would he become part of an organisation for war. He had refused to be medically examined, so was classed as fit for general service.
Chairman: How long have you held this objection?
- Ever since the war started.
Chairman: Do you object to non-combatant service?
- Yes.
Councillor Schofield: What do you mean by non-combatant service?
- Serving in a unit in conjunction with the military.
Councillor Schofield: Would you take hospital work to be non-combatant service?
- Yes.
Mr Wood: Would you relieve the wounded? Would you not like to do that?
- The majority of those who are wounded go back to fight again.
Councillor Schofield: I am sorry you have such views as those but it is no use arguing with you.
Parker was accompanied by his sister-in-law and Mr Schofield asked her if she wished to say anything?
- No.
Mr Schofield: You are just bucking him up, then?
- I don't think he requires any; I know I would not.

The appeal was dismissed.

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Manchester Appeal Tribunal 4 April 1917
Reported Oldham Standard 5 April 1917

In the court over which Mr Holkin presided on Wednesday, the following cases were dealt with …

… Another conscientious objector, Alfred Parker, was ordered to report for combatant service on April 16th.

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Oldham Magistrates' Court 18 April 1917
Reported Oldham Standard 18 April 1917

A youth of 18 who declared himself a conscientious objector was before the Oldham Magistrates today charged with being an absentee under the Military Service Act. His name was given as Alfred Parker.

The Chief Constable stated that the young man should have reported for army service on Monday but had failed to do so whereupon the military authorities requested the police to arrest him. He had to ask that the youth be handed over to the custody of Sergeant Major Bailey and that the usual penalty be inflicted in addition.

Asked why he had not obeyed the summons to the colours, Parker said, "I am a conscientious objector to all military service. Holding all human life to be sacred, I could not comply with the order."
The Chairman, Mr F Houghton: You will be fined £2 and handed over to the military authorities. The youth was then removed in the custody of the sergeant major.

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The WO 363 records for Alfred Parker survive (held at The National Archives, available online via Find My Past):

19 April 1917 Enlisted at Ashton Barracks. Reg'l no. 38858 Height 5ft 7¼ins
20 April 1917 Posted to 72nd Training Reserve at Prees Heath Camp, Whitchurch, Shropshire. Refused to obey an order to lay his kit out.
Sentenced to 10 days Confined to Barracks.
http://thegreatwar.whitchurch-shropshire.co.uk/prees-heath-camp/
30 April 1917 Refused to obey an order.
12 May 1917 Court Martialled - sentenced to one year with hard labour. Sent to Wormwood Scrubs.
July 1917 Accepted the Home Office Scheme, sent to Dartmoor Work Centre

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He has an entry on the Pearce List of over 17500 WW1 Conscientious Objectors.

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Born Oldham, 28 February 1899
Died Not found

1911 census
252 Copster Hill Road, Oldham
Single with parents and two brothers (both also COs)
Occ: Errand lad (Half time)

1939 register
27 Merton Avenue, Oldham
With wife Edna and possibly one child redacted.
Occ: Haulage contractor, driving, heavy worker

Contributed by Dorothy Bintley