Daniel Watkinson

Chadderton Tribunal 13 March 1916
Reported Oldham Chronicle 14 March 1916

At the sitting of the Chadderton Tribunal the cases of several conscientious objectors were heard. Councillor Carter presided.

…. Daniel Watkinson (19) 656 Middleton-road, Chadderton, a teacher, who said he had been studying for the Primitive Methodist ministry, appealed for exemption on religious grounds and personal grounds, that his income was necessary for the health of a weakly sister.
It was pointed out that the family, with the separation allowance, would be as well off as now.
Applicant admitted that a lot of ministers were taking part in the war but as ministers. He knew that every Wesleyan college except one was closed.

Chairman: There is no such thing as honour. Do you believe in honour?
- No, I believe in Christianity. Nothing else will satisfy me.
Chairman: How far is honour removed from Christianity?
- Honour is worldly and moral; Christianity Christly and heavenly.
Chairman: Do you think a man is following the commandment: "Honour thy father and thy mother," which I take to mean sister and brother too, if he will not defend them?
- He must defend. Applicant went on to quote several passages of Scripture and ended: "He was despised and rejected of men." That is my Master's message for me.

Councillor Owen: Oh don't make a martyr of yourself. Would you consider it Christian to bind up the wounded and help them back to life? Christ went about healing. Do you object to that?
- Not if I could not find better work.
The Chairman: Do you consider teaching youngsters better work?
- That is not my work.
Is it your living?
- It is in the day-time but I am a minister of God and want to give out my appeal to men. If you can guarantee to me that I shall have the chance of giving the testimony and turning men to God, saying my prayers and serving my God better than now, then I will go.
Captain Taylor: You cannot be reading your Bible when you should be in the fighting zone but you will find plenty of time to study your Bible and find plenty of hearers..

Applicant, who said he was not willing to serve in the R.A.M.C., was sent to the non-combatant force.

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Salford Hundred Appeal Tribunal 25 May 1916
Reported Oldham Chronicle 27 May 1916

The Appeals Tribunal for the Salford Hundred sitting at Manchester under the chairmanship of Judge Mellor KC on Thursday afternoon heard the cases of a large number of conscientious objectors against military service, combatant and non-combatant remitted from the Pelham Committee.

… Daniel Watkinson (22 years) a school teacher of Chadderton, appeared before the Tribunal and the chairman's first question to him was, after setting the circular [a list of occupations in agriculture, forestry, transport and public utility] before him, "What are you willing to do here Mr Watkinson?"

Watkinson said that the work he was doing as a teacher was of national importance in his opinion.

Like most part of the men he was not ready to at once pick out from the list the work he would like to do and had any chance of getting, so he, like others, was granted ten days - some had fourteen - in which to look around.

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Born Oldham, 16 November 1896
Died Blackpool, December quarter 1975

1911 census
87 Green Street, Middleton
Single, age 14, with widowed mother, 4 older sisters, a younger brother and young nephew.
Occ: At school

1939 register :
4 Leacroft Road, Didsbury, Manchester
With wife Edith, son Dennis and daughter Kathleen
Occ: Meat buyer & sales supervisor

Contributed by Dorothy Bintley