Reuben Schofield

Oldham Tribunal 6 March 1916
Reported Oldham Chronicle 11 March 1916

Several claims for exemption from service under the Military Service Act on conscientious grounds were heard on Monday before the Oldham Tribunal. The Mayor was presiding …

… Reuben Schofield, a herbalist, claimed exemption on the grounds of a conscientious objection to war and also that he carried on the business. He said, in reply to the Mayor, that he refused to go and fight. There is a sister at home but the parents are aged and feeble.
Later the applicant said that as a Christian he could not fight.
Applicant objected to non-combatant service.

He was granted temporary exemption until April 1st.

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Manchester Appeal Tribunal 30 March 1916
Reported Oldham Chronicle 1 April 1916

The South-east Lancashire Appeal Tribunal sitting in two sections at the Town Hall, Manchester on Thursday afternoon heard appeals for total exemption from service made by a number of young men from Oldham …

… Reuben Schofield, herbalist, of Ashton-road, appealed for exemption on business grounds and because of his conscientious objection against military service. The Oldham Tribunal had been of the opinion that the business could be carried on by the applicant's father and was not satisfied in the matter of conscientious objection.
Schofield: As a servant of the Lord, I stand separate from it.
Chairman: Apart from what? What do you mean?
- From that which is associated with that which is not in keeping with that which is in accordance of the will of God. God's will for me is not to be engaged in war.
Chairman: I suppose you mean you object to fighting. Do you object to go and help the wounded and the sick and the rest of it? Is that according to the will of God or against it in your ideas?
- I would be associated with war.
Chairman: But what is your objection to going into the hospital? Nobody asks you to kill people there, only to help the sick?
- I am doing that regularly in my business.
Chairman: Why not go and give the benefit of your experience in the hospital?
- They would not accept it, I cannot associate with that which will bring dishonour to His name.
Chairman: How can hospital work bring dishonour to His name? It is astounding!

The appeal for exemption was dismissed.

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

3 June 1916 At Ashton Barracks enlisted into the 3rd Western Company, Non Combatant Corps, regimental number 1650
Height 5 ft 5 ¾ ins Weight 8 st 12 lbs
Posted to Kinmel Park

20 November 1917 Posted to Dublin.

19 November 1919 Discharged from army (from Dublin)

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

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Born Oldham, 27 May 1883
Died Oldham, 26 December 1956

1911 census
165 Ashton Road, Oldham
Single with parents
Occ: Shopkeeper, herbalist

1939 register
165 Ashton Road, Oldham
Single with unmarried sister
Occ: Consulting herbalist

Contributed by Dorothy Bintley