John Robishaw

Limehurst Tribunal, Church Institute, Bardsley 21 March 1916
Reported Oldham Chronicle 25 March 1916

The Limehurst Military Tribunal met at the Church Institute on Tuesday ….

…. John Robishaw of 719 Oldham-road, Bardsley, a foreman warehouseman at the Boundary Spinning Mill, Oldham, appealed on business grounds and also as a conscientious objector.
Mr A E Hibbert, manager of the mill, wrote that three warehousemen had already joined the colours and it would be a severe handicap if Robishaw was taken. Seventy-five percent of the mill's trade was for export.

Robishaw's personal appeal ran: I appeal on the ground of my conscience. I am totally opposed to any form of military activity. I cannot kill, nor can I be a party, either combatant or non-combatant, to any undertaking which can only achieve its object by killing.
The Chairman pointed out that he was not in an exempted trade.
The Chairman: How does this conscientious objection come about?
- Well ever since I have been working - 14 years ago - I have always had a conscientious objection to warfare.
Have you any evidence?
- Well, I have my own life.
Mr Darlington: I am very much against these conscientious objectors. How can you prove that he has a conscientious objection?
The Chairman: How have all these people proved it?
Mr Darlington: They have tumbled to it.
Robishaw: I quite understand the difficult position you are placed in with regard to proving anyone's conscience. I know I cannot really prove it to you and neither can you prove to me that I have not a conscientious objection.
Mr Darlington: But look how many come forward on that conscientious belief.
- Those that are trying to hide behind conscience and have not an honest conscientious objection are getting the real conscientious objector ill thought of.

The Chairman: You have no writings or anything to show that you have held these opinions before the war?
- No but I could have brought a witness if the tribunal had been sitting later.
What would he prove?
- He could prove I had held these conscientious objections long before the war started.
Mr M Lowe: You have got a mother?
- Yes and a father too.
And you won't fight for them?
- No, not in that way.
Are you thinking of getting married any time?
- Well I don't know about that. I have not considered that yet.
If you do, what sort of woman will you get? Will you get one that will look after you and defend you as well as herself?
- I don't know whether she will defend me or not.
Mr Herbert: Are you a vegetarian?
- No
You don't object to all killing then?
- I object to taking human life.
Mr Ashcroft: Do you object to taking life in self defence?
- Yes, in self defence.
You would let your nation be overrun by Germans before you would lift your hand?
- I should never attempt to take life whatever happened.

Mr Ashcroft: the war cannot be supported without using arms and losing life and if we are to be a free nation, we shall have to use something we never wanted to use.
The Chairman: I would rather hear his witness. If he had not held his views before the war I would have settled him in a minute.
Robishaw: If you knew me really and the life I have led, you would understand. I am the secretary of the Primitive Methodist Sunday school, also a teacher.
Mr Ashcroft: I believe this, Mr Chairman: There are hundreds and thousands in this country now, who, before the war felt that they could not have taken human life according to their minds but who now think otherwise. They would do almost anything to defend their country.
Mr Darlington: You benefit from the country and you ought to take a hand in defending the people.
Mr M Lees: Supposing a man came into your house and began smashing your mother, would you stand by and merely ask him to stop?
- I cannot say what I should do.
Mr Lees: Well it is time you made up your mind then.
- I should never take life.
When the Chairman said that the appeal was not assented to, Robishaw remarked: Cannot you consent to me being put in a non-combatant corps?
Mr M Lees: I should say not.
- Well I shall appeal. I cannot take life whatever you say or whatever you do. You cannot alter my conscientious objection. I can tell you that.
The Chairman: You have the option of appealing now.
Robishaw: Well I did think you would put me in the non-combatants.

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Born Oldham, 23 December 1883
Died Oldham, 3 October 1965:
Address: 30 Bardsley Vale Avenue, Oldham

1911 census:
719 Oldham Road, Bardsley Brow, Ashton - under - Lyne
Single, age 27, with parents, 2 younger brothers and a younger sister.
Occ: Cop packer, cotton trade

1939 register: not found

Contributed by Dorothy Bintley