George Henry Whitehead

Oldham Tribunal 3 July 1916
Reported Oldham Chronicle 8 July 1916

Several Oldham men appealed to the Oldham Tribunal on Monday afternoon for exemption from service on the ground that they hold a conscientious objection against war and against having connection with the war.

… George H. Whitehead (38 years), clerk and accounts collector wrote, in claiming exemption on conscientious grounds, that for four years he had been studying to educate himself for preaching, and he had an invitation to accept the hon. pastorate of a Baptist Church in Manchester. For twelve years he had been teacher of the Young Men's Bible Class at the Chamber Road Baptist Church. A letter was read from the hon. secretary of the Manchester District Lay Preachers' Association, of which association the appellant is a member, to the effect that he had every reason to believe that the objection against military service was of a bona-fide character.
Councillor Schofield: I take it, Mr. Whitehead, that you have objected to war for some considerable time?
- Ever since I began to think.
Councillor Schofield: You would be quite willing to enter on hospital work and the like if called upon to do it?
- Whatever you tell me to do, I shall have to bow to the inevitable. But I submit that I am engaged on work higher than anyone could put me to.

Captain Almond put it to the appellant that it was unlikely the invitation to the pastorate of the church would not be open to him after the war if he went into hospital work, high and elevating work, suitable for a man of his type.
Councillor Schofield : If you promised to take up hospital work for the time of the war, I don't think it would affect your prospects of preaching. I believe they would think all the more of you afterwards.

Appellant was granted temporary exemption to September 1st.

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Oldham Tribunal 27 September 1916
Reported Oldham Standard 28 September 1916

More conscientious objections to military service were preferred before the Oldham Tribunal on Wednesday
[The Oldham Chronicle report of the tribunal says that he worked for Messrs Hirst and Rennie Limited as clerk and accounts collector. This company owned the Oldham Chronicle.]

The first objector heard was George H Whitehead aged 38 and married, of Morris-street, who wrote that he was a lay preacher in the Baptist Church and for four years had been studying and educating himself to that service. He claimed that he was doing work that was of national importance and pointed out that there was an aspect of nationally important work that was not recognised in these times. He was sure that the would have agreed with him had they seen an afternoon meeting which he conducted on Sunday, when fully half of the church was filled with people who had lost sons, brothers or husbands. Surely it was work of national importance to be able to solace and console the war-broken. Since his last appeal, he had taken regular work at a church in Manchester on Sunday afternoons and evenings.

Captain Almond: Do you object to going in ambulance work?
The man: I have no objection, I could not object reasonably. But I think I can say that my present work is higher even than that.
Captain Almond: I don't think it is higher. It may be in your opinion but it is not in mine.
The man: There are few inclined to do the work that I have undertaken, and I say that, by doing it, I am helping to keep the torch alight and the soul of England alive.
Councillor Schofield pointed out that ambulance work would afford the man facilities for carrying out certain aspects of his present work.

Alderman Middleton: Supposing you were sent into non-combatant service, what would you do?
Councillor Frith: Or, supposing you were put on hospital work?
The man: I should have to be guided by events to a certain extent!
Councillor Frith: But what would be your attitude?
The man: As regards hospital work I should have to bow to the inevitable.
Alderman Middleton: You could not take combatant service under any circumstances?
The man: I couldn't sir!
Alderman Middleton: As to the other form of army service, you probably would.
The man: If I saw a man suffering and you compelled me to go to render him aid, I must go; I can do no other. But going into the army would be a dire calamity, not only to me but also to my congregation, if you take me from my work.

In reply to questions, the appellant said that his ministerial work in Manchester was unpaid. He was married and had a family.

He was ordered to non-combatant work.

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Born Oldham, 3 October 1877
Died Oldham, 2 March 1919
Buried Greenacres Cemetery, Grave B11 - 54

1911 census
9 Morris Street, Oldham
With wife Annie and daughter Kathleen aged 3 years
Occ: Account collector (Oldham Chronicle)

1939 register Deceased

Contributed by Dorothy Bintley