Walter Pollitt

Failsworth Tribunal 15 March 1916
Reported Oldham Chronicle 18 March 1916

Walter Pollitt, a masseur, said he was opposed to war. His duty was to establish the brotherhood of man. The world was his country and mankind his brothers and to do good was his religion.

He is 32 years of age and lives at 35 Ashton-road East.

He said he was not a member of the No-Conscription Fellowship but was a secularist and he had held those convictions since he could think for himself.

He was put in the non-combatant corps.

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Manchester Appeal Tribunal 5 April 1916
Reported Oldham Chronicle 8 April 1916

At the sitting of the South East Lancashire Appeals Tribunal at Manchester Town Hall on Wednesday, claims were made by conscientious objectors from Failsworth. Mr J M Yates KC presided and all the appeals were dismissed, the local tribunal's decisions being upheld …

… Walter Pollitt (32) a masseur of 35 Ashton-road East, Failsworth, claimed absolute exemption because war could not rid society of trouble. His first duty was to establish the brotherhood of man. The world was his country, mankind his brethren and to do good his religion.

The Chairman: What body do you belong to?
- The Secularists.
You do not believe in God then?
- I don't know about that.
If you are a Secularist you don't.
- I don't know whether there is a God or not.
Do you want to say anything more?
- I am appealing for total exemption because the local tribunal seemed to be under the impression that they could not grant it under the Military Service Act.

The Chairman: We shall not make any such mistake. There is no conscientious objection here and the appeal is dismissed.

His appeal against the decision made at the Failsworth Tribunal was turned down.
He was sent to the Non-Combatant Corps.

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Pearce states he served in France with the 1 Western Non Combatant Corps.
He was court martialled on 31 January 1918 and sentenced to 6 months with hard labour in Wormwood Scrubs.

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Born Failsworth, 16 September 1883
Died Oldham, 31 October 1969

1911 census :
25 Ashton Road East, Failsworth
Single with parents and siblings
Occ. Temporary warehouse assistant.

1939 register :
25 Ashton Road East, Failsworth
With wife Elsie, no children listed
Occ. Masseur

Contributed by Dorothy Bintley