John Whittle Withnell

Crompton Tribunal 2 August 1917
Reported 4 August 1917 Oldham Chronicle

At a meeting of the Crompton Tribunal on Thursday evening John Whittle Withnell, head warehouseman at the Ash Mill, made an appeal on conscientious grounds against military service. Withnell had been ordered for service on a business appeal but was opposed to militarism and, following a communication from the Local Government Board, agreed to hear his personal appeal.

Applicant said he was opposed to military service on religious and moral ground. He believed in a force stronger that the physical. He was prepared to accept work of national importance, providing it was for the general good of the community.

The Chairman (Councillor Clegg) read a letter he had received from the Rev John Hunt, pastor of Shaw Wesleyan Church, strongly emphasising the views held by Withnell, which he asserted were no make-believe. He honestly believed these were the appellant's views of many years' standing.
Councillor Clegg: What precisely are your grounds for opposing combatant service?
Withnell: I am opposed to taking life in any form.
Councillor Clegg: Why are you opposed to non-combatant service?
- Because you are really assisting the man who is doing the thing himself.
Would you object to saving life?
- Yes, if it were concerned with militarism. If you are saving life in that sense you are preparing the man to face the enemy and I have just as much right as he has to do that.

Have you made any particular sacrifice at any time on account of your conscientious objection?
- It is difficult to tell that. This last four months I have been subject to arrest. There has been anxiety there.
Councillor Clegg: To what extent with regard to money have you made any sacrifice? Not to the same extent as the men who are defending this country I suppose?
- I have joined organisations for the uplifting of humanity. I would be willing to go on national service other than my present work.
What sort of work?
- If I am serving humanity I am not very particular.
Councillor Clegg pointed out that when the manager of the mill at which Withnell was employed came there, he said they were employed on work for the Government and therefore every day of his life appellant had been assisting militarism and drawing his wage for it at the week-end.

Widnell admitted that it was so in a very small way but contended that it was work which he had been connected with all his life. It would be different if he had been put to making shells. "If you lift your hand to-day you are assisting militarism," he observed and added that he could not ask the manager of the mill where the work was going to.
You have know all along where the wrk has been going to?
- Yes, to a certain extent.
Appellant, on the question of sacrifice said he had been working 65 hours per week for the last nine months through the Tribunal taking so many men from the mill and he had attended the ambulance class.
Councillor Clegg: You have been paid for the work. You don't call that sacrifice.
Appellant said he was not opposed to going on a farm providing he was not exploited by the farmer.

Councillor Clegg: If the foe came in this country and you knew that your wife and children were to be outraged and violated, you would raise your hand to prevent it?
- I should prevent it in my own way. If a man slaughters another man he is insane and ought to be treated as such.
Councillor Clegg: It is an untenable position to take up. It is no use arguing with men who get the cranks in their head. You still hold to your former position and are not willing to be examined, I suppose?
Withnell: No, not for military purposes.

The Tribunal ordered Withnell to non-combatant service.

[At the end of the report the following is added]

On Wednesday [1 August] Withnell was before the magistrates at Royton charged with being an absentee but in view of the receipt of a letter from the Local Government Board with regard to his being given a hearing by the Tribunal on personal grounds, the case was remanded for a week.

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Salford Hundred Appeals Tribunal 22 August 1917
Reported Oldham Chronicle 23 August 1917

… In the case of John W Withnell, head warehouseman to the Ash Spinning Co., Shaw, aged 30, married, class A, Mr Chapman, solicitor, who appeared for him, said he had advised him to accept the course which the Tribunal had laid down in the other cases.

The Chairman: How long have you had this conscientious objection?
Withnell: Well, that's an awkward question. It's hard to say. I have only thought about it since the war came up but I have always been against that sort of thing.
The Military representative: This man has been working all along on war work. He admitted that before the local Tribunal and said he was willing to continue that so long as he evaded combatant service.

The Chairman: This is a different case to the others we have heard. This gentleman does not mind taking so much a week for supplying yarn for war purposes but beyond that he is not prepared to go. His appeal will be dismissed.

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Royton Magistrates Wednesday 29 August 1917
Reported Rochdale Observer 1 September 1917

At the Royton petty sessions on Wednesday, John Whittle Withnell of Rochdale Road, Shaw, head warehouseman at the Ash Mill. Was charged with being an absentee under the Military Service Act. Under as appeal he had been ordered to report on August 25th. Withnell said he had not received fair treatment. He was entitled to exemption on two grounds, his business and his conscientious objection.
Lieutenant Watts said Withnell had caused endless trouble. A man had been sent specially from London in connection with the case.

Withnell was ordered to be handed over to a military escort.

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

31 August 1917 Enlisted at Ashton Barracks. No 6 Western Company Non Combatant Corps. Regimental number 4400. Posted to Oswestry.
Height 5 ft 5 ¼ ins Weight 9 sts 12 lbs.
1 September 1917 Charged with disobeying an order.
5 September 1917 Court Martial - 6 months with hard labour at Wormwood Scrubs.
7 November 1917 Accepted work under Home Office Scheme, sent to Knutsford Work Camp.

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He has an entry on the Pearce List. of over 17,500 WW1 Conscientious Objectors.

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Born Chorley, 6 September 1883
Died Shaw, 14 August 1963

1911 census
4 Park Street, Shaw
With wife Susan, no children listed
Occ: Cop packer

1939 register
21 Manor Road, Shaw
With wife Susan and possibly 3 children (2 redacted)
Warehouseman cotton spinning mill

Contributed by Dorothy Bintley