John Rafferty

Oldham Tribunal 6 March 1916
Reported Oldham Standard 11 March 1916

More claims for exemption from service on the grounds of a conscientious objection were heard before the Oldham Tribunal on Wednesday, sitting to hear applications under the Military Service Act. The Mayor (Alderman Greaves) presided ...

… John Rafferty, a cotton operative who is employed at the Avon Mill and used to work in the Ram Mill said that he had never had it in his head to assist in war. He lives at 44a Godson Street.

Councillor Frith: Would you assist as a non-combatant?
- Not as anything.
Rafferty is a Roman Catholic and the Mayor asked him to look at the thousands of Roman Catholics who had gone to war.
"They have their own ideas, I have mine," was his reply.
Captain Almond: Ninety per cent of the Dublin Fusiliers are Roman Catholics. Thank God we have some Roman Catholics who can fight and will fight.

Rafferty has a brother in the army but said he would not help, even in a hospital.

He was sent down as for non-combatant service.

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Not found 1911 census

Contributed by Dorothy Bintley