Fred Reed

Oldham Tribunal 3 July 1916
Reported Oldham Chronicle 8th July 1916

Aged 35, a pavior employed by Oldham Corporation

He said he had been a member of the International Bible Students Association for nearly 5 years. He said he was willing to do work of national importance not under military control.

Exempted from combatant service

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Manchester Appeals Tribunal 26 July 1916
Reported Oldham Chronicle 27 July 1916

He said he had been a Wesleyan before he became a member of IBSA.
He said he considered his present employment to be work of national importance.

He was given 14 days to find work of national importance.

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Manchester Appeals Tribunal 11 August 1916
Reported Oldham Chronicle 12 August 1916

He said he had found employment on the Great Central Railway at Chesterfield but he handed in a letter from the Borough Surveyor of Oldham which said that the department was understaffed and they were short of paviors.
Judge Mellor pointed out that conscientious objectors had to get work of national importance which called on them for some sacrifice. If they were left at their old work they were comfortable and made no sacrifice, while other men were fighting and dying for them.

He was exempted from military service as long as he stayed in employment with the railway.

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Born Chesterfield 8 June 1881
Died Stoke on Trent 13 January 1976

1911 census;
20 Devon Street, Werneth, Oldham
With wife Lily, no children
Occ. Pavior

1939 Register:
154 Milton Street, Stoke on Trent
wife Lily, no children listed
Occ. Pavior

Contributed by Dorothy Bintley