Looking back to 1916 from COs' Day 2018

For International Conscientious Objectors' Day, 15 May
A day in the implementation of the Military Service Act

as reported in The Scotsman, 10 June 1916, p.8, cols. 6-7

When newspapers had pages full of news...
Amongst the war news reported on the 10th of June in The Scotsman (Edinburgh) there are several reports about reactions and resistance to conscription, introduced nationally in the Military Service Acts of 1916 (January and May). One of these features Dr John MacCallum, mentioned previously in a review of Robert Duncan's Objectors and Resisters and more extensively in a subsequent post.

Transcription: 

ARGYLLSHIRE ASSISTANT MEDICAL OFFICER

_______________

FINED AS AN ABSEBTEE

In Oban Sheriff Court yesterday – before Sheriff Substitute Wallace – John Cameron MacCallum, M.B., Ch.B., Muckairn Manse, Taynuilt, recently Executive Tuberculosis Officer and Assistant Medical Officer for the Country of Argyll, appeared on a charge that, having been deemed to have been enlisted and transferred to the Army Reserve under the Military Service Act, and having on 13^th may been called up from the Reserve for service, he failed to report himself at Stirling Castle on 30^th May in accordance with the requirements of the notice served on him.

The accused pleaded not guilty.

In reply to the Sheriff-Substitute, he admitted a breach of the statute, but, in view of the conscientious objections which he held to participating in war service in any capacity, he maintained he could tender no other plea than that of not guilty. He acknowledged that he had not received a certificate for exemption as a conscientious objector, although he had applied for one.

Formal evidence having been led by the Procurator-Fiscal, the Sheriff-Substitute convicted the accused, and sentenced him to pay a fine of £2, or one week’s imprisonment. 

On leaving the dock, Dr MacCallum was taken into custody by a military escort.

 - The Scotsman, Saturday June 10, 1916, p.8, col.6-7. Military Service: Labour and Recruiting

Dr MacCallum was of course not alone in his stand, as shown in the next two reports.

Further details on most of the other COs listed can be found at:
https://search.livesofthefirstworldwar.org/search/world-records/conscientious-objectors-register-1914-1918.

As is also well know and well documented, all was not quiescent on the labour front either - not only on 'Red' Clydeside.

The same columns contain brief notices of how conscription was affecting essential work (‘agricultural labour’, ‘female labour in bakeries’, and ‘Fife colliery’), and several industrial disputes: Edinburgh corporation workers wanting an increase in wages; Edinburgh painters rumoured to be nearing a settlement after 11 weeks; and Dundee calender [sic*] workers back to work after 3 months on strike with an expectation of having their claim considered. Not to mention Galsgow muntions workers and the vexed question of postponing the traditional ‘Glasgow Fair’ annual holidays, in the national interest of course.

Calender Girls?

(There were many women working in the jute industry in Dundee even before the war)

*CALENDERER / CALENDERMAN / CALENDER WORKER - operated a machine which pressed using two large rollers (calender) used to press and finish fabrics or paper. - Answer to an online query.


The official labour and trade union movement of course supported the war...but not unanimously.

Finally, column 8 on the same page under the heading Biographical Notes records the sad fate of many of those who had gone to the war. The whole page can be seen as a pdf.      

Sections of CO group photographs, as featured on the cover of

Voices from War and Some Labour Struggles (Edinburgh, Mercat Press, 1995), ed. Ian MacDougall

(no picture credits given other than for the cover design as a whole).

For more events on 15th May see Peace Pledge Union:

http://www.ppu.org.uk/coday/coday2018.html

And a related news story from Edinburgh, 15-5-2018:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-44110224

------------------------------------

POSTSCRIPT:
Another small part of the story, this time from Aberdeen -
National Council Against Conscription (Aberdeen) (1916) 
"During World War One, the National Council Against Conscription was established in response to the Military Service Bills of 1916, which introduced conscription for men between 18 and 40. The Council opposed conscription as an infringement on civil liberties and campaigned against the bill seeking to stop it passing through Parliament. The Council was one of many groups operating at the time, such as The No-Conscription Fellowship, and these groups monitored the work of the military tribunals and gave advice to the men who appeared before them. The Council changed its name in 1916 to The National Council for Civil Liberties (n.b. there was another organisation with the same
name from the early 1930s and which became Liberty, as it is known today).
"There was a branch in Aberdeen and William Davidson, a stores porter, Vice President of the Aberdeen Independent Labour Party, was secretary.
"References: Conscientious Objectors Register 1914 – 1918 at Imperial War Museum website (record of William Davidson)."

Conscientious Objectors from Lewis, continuing.

As well as Donald Maclennan, three other men from Lewis, as previously noted, appear on the Pearce Register. Their varying experiences in the First World War, according to the records on that database, are looked at here. In addition the Appeal Tribunal files for two of them have been consulted.

1. Donald Morrison, Garrabost.

First name(s)	Donald
Last name	Morrison
Marital status	Single
Occupation	Student (Divinity)
Age	22.1
Birth year	1894
Year	1916
Address	32, Garrabost
Address 2	Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
Local authority	Stornoway Burgh
County	Ross And Cromarty
Country	Scotland
Latitude	58.2
Longitude	-6.39
Ordnance Survey reference	NB420320
Service number	2451
Motivation	-
War Service	NCC (Non-Combatant Corps) 14.8.16 Fort George, (3 Scottish)
WO363	true
Sources	NA/WO363 - on line - incomplete
Record set	Conscientious Objectors' Register 1914-1918

As in the case of Donald Maclennan, assignment to the NCC indicates that Donald Morrison would have been granted partial exemption (ECS - Exemption from Combatant Service only) by the local tribunal, probably in Stornoway. Since there is no mention of appeal, court-martial or prison in the case of the latter, it is likely that he accepted this, rather than being among the  "absolutists" who refused any form of military service.

2. Murdo Macleod, Cromore

The Appeal Tribunal record for Murdo Macleod can be viewed as a pdf (11 pages)

Appeal against Conscription, 1916 by Murdo Maclood, Conscientious Objector - Excerpts

The file is prefaced by a handwritten letter dated 1^st April 1916 protesting against the decision of the Appeal tribunal (image above).

It may seem surprising that someone who described his occupation as “Fisherman and working on the croft” should display such a degree of literacy and specialised knowledge as is apparent in the letter and statements here, but only, perhaps, to those not acquainted with islanders of his generation.

Notice of Appeal. (Stamped, Stornoway, 20-3-16).

(2) Grounds on which appeal made:

(a) On grounds of my constitutional relation to “Second” Reformation in (1638016490 overthrown at the Revolution Settlement for which reasons, principally, we as a body are dissenters from Settlement, which testimony was issued by the Reformed Presbytery, first in 1761 renewed in 1777, and again in 1842, and publicly adhered to in “Chisholm’s Defence of Reformation Principles” (1913) with which I identify myself.

(b)   Since the Revolution Settlement the “Catholic Relief Bill” contrary to “Act for preventing the growth of papacy” in King William’s First Parliament Nov.23. 1700; again “Change in King’s Coronation Oath” 1910, and finally the recent “Special Envoy for the Pope”; for which reasons, I, conscientiously, cannot serve under the Military Service Act.

Murdo Macleod        

13/3/-16         

For Local Tribunal

The Tribunal after hearing the Applicant disallowed the claim but recommended him for non-combatant service.    

Stornoway 11^th March 1916

For Appeal Tribunal (Ross & Cromarty and Sutherland, Lewis Section)

            Appellant heard, Appeal refused.

Stornoway 31^st March 1916.

Leave to appeal further [to Central Tribunal] was also refused, the appellant not having stated any reasons sufficient justify a further appeal.

Reasons in support of the [original] Application *

            I had accepted the testimony of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland, previous to the outbreak of this war, as published in the years 1761, 1777, 1842; and published and adopted in 1913 by that body of men with whom I identified myself, in a book “Defence of Reformation Principles”. The aforementioned position is against any part in this war.

This attitude had been taken up by us before any word was heard of this war.

Murdo Macleod                    

26/I/-16

*A longer written statement (4 pages) is on file, further explaining Murdo’s conscientious objections in terms of his religious beliefs:

… God has commanded rulers to rule “in the fear of the Lord”, and has given them explicit rules in His Word… and no ruler or government has any authority (that of a Tyrant) to enact laws, and force the same on people, which are inconsistent with the rules of the Word of God.

… I therefore adhere to the position of dissent…

… No power, can maintain the Kingdoms that rebel against the Great King

… For these reasons I can’t undertake to serve under the Military Service Act.

Decision of the Tribunal: [against which the appeal was lodged]

Stornoway 11^th March 1916

The Tribunal disallowed the claim. Applicant recommended for non-combatant service and enrolled at once in the R.A.M.C. [Royal Army Medical Corps].

Murdo McLean Chairman.      

His reasons, considered in detail, may be unique among COs; they are certainly unusual. The underlying principle of refusing to abdicate his conscience and responsibility for vital decisions was, however, shared by most if not all, and he turned out to be among the most resolute, as his record shows:

• Sent to 4(R) Seaforth Highlanders  
• Court Martial at Invergordon 10.11.16 - sentenced to 112 days hard labour
• Central Tribunal at Wormwood Scrubs 8.12.16 - refused to accept the Home Office Scheme (administered by the Brace Committee) conditions
• Court Martial Ripon 21.2.18 -  sentenced to 1 year with hard labour)
• Served time in: Wormwood Scrubs; Stafford Military Prison; Winson Green Civil Prison, Birmingham.

By Jan.1919 had served 4 sentences and two years.

First name(s)     Murdo

Last name           McLeod

Occupation         Fisherman and crofter

Age        29

Birth year            1887

Year       1916

Address               28, Cromore

Address 2            Stornoway, Isle of Lewis

Local authority  Stornoway Burgh

County Ross And Cromarty

Country                Scotland

Latitude               58.2

Longitude            -6.39

Ordnance Survey reference        NB420320

Absolutist            Yes

Motivation          Reformed Presbyterian 

Military Service Tribunal                MST (Military Service Tribunal) Lewis District 11.3.16 - ECS (Exemption from Combatant Service), non-combatant; Ross, Cromarty and Sutherland Appeal 20.3.16 - refused, ECS (Exemption from Combatant Service) confirmed; Central Tribunal at Wormwood S. 8.12.16 - refused to accept HOS (The Home Office Scheme, administered by the Brace Committee) conditions

Central Tribunal                Central Tribunal Nos. W.2257 Refused HOS

War Service        4(R) Seaforth Highlanders; CM (Court Martial) Invergordon 10.11.16 - 112 days.HL (With hard labour); CM (Court Martial) Rugeley 14.6.17 - 6 months HL (With hard labour); CM (Court Martial) Ripon 21.2.18 - 1yr.HL (With hard labour)

Prison   Wormwood S.; Stafford MP (Military Prison); Winson Green CP (Civil Prison), Birmingham; By Jan.1919 had served 4 sentences and two years.

WO363 false

Sources                NA/WO86/72/111, 76/98, 80/140; FH/FSC(1916/20)/SER3 - COIB Two Year Men; NA/MH47/1 Central Tribunal Minutes; FH/SER/VOPC/Cases/5(4104); NAS/SC33/62/1/20.

Record set          Conscientious Objectors' Register 1914-1918

3. Charles Record, Stornoway, originally from Essex

In 1911 Charles was working as a "servant" while training to be a teacher, and living with his parents and sister (also a teacher) at 58 Borthwick Road, Stratford.

First name(s)     Last name           Relationship      Marital status    Sex         Occupation         Age        Birth year            Birth place

George William Record  Head     Married                Male      Decorative Japanner      47           1864       London Bethnal Green  

Annie    Record  Wife      Married                Female -              45           1866       London Stepney              

Charles Record  Son        Single   Male     Servant In Training For Teacher 19           1892       Essex Wanstead Slip      

Gladys  Record  Daughter             Single    Female Elementary Student Teacher      18           1893       Essex Wanstead Slip

Five years later he was a science teacher in the Nicolson Institute, Stornoway, living at 28 Point Street.

The whole Appeal Tribunal record for Charles Record can be viewed as a pdf here (8 pages)

Appeal against Conscription, 1916 by Charles Record, Conscientious Objector - Excerpts

The file is prefaced by a handwritten letter dated 20^th May 1916 protesting against the decision of the Appeal tribunal (image of first of two pages above).

Notice of Appeal. (Stamped, Stornoway, 20-3-16 [Same date as for Murdo Macleod]).

(2) Grounds on which appeal made: My application was for total exemption on grounds of conscientious objection. By granting me exemption from combatant service the Local Tribunal apparently admitted my sincerity.

  I appeal for total exemption; so that I may not be compelled to assist in the taking of life.

  In particular I appeal for exemption from work involving the taking of the Military Oath. At present I can disobey laws which conflict with my conscience, if willing to suffer the penalties. By taking the oath I surrender that right, by solemnly promising to obey all commands of the military authorities; thereby handing over my conscience to them. This is quite impossible for me; especially since I object to the purpose for which the military organisation exists, & therefore to most of its requirements. Even though I might never receive a command which conflicted with my conscience, I cannot make the offer to discard my convictions.

Charles Record         

March 4^th 1916

Reasons for the decision of the Local (Stornoway) Tribunal

The Tribunal having heard the Applicant refused the Application, but recommended him for non-combatant service.    [2-3-16]

For Appeal Tribunal (Ross & Cromarty and Sutherland, Lewis Section)

            The Tribunal having heard the appellant refused the Appeal.

Leave to appeal [further, to Central Tribunal] was also refused, the appellant not having stated any grounds to justify persuasion [?].

Stornoway 31^st March 1916. [Same date as for Murdo Macleod]

Reasons in support of the [original] Application

            As a Christian I cannot undertake the responsibility of inflicting death.

My international ideals convince me that I ought not to take part in international disputes which involve the killing of my fellows.

I believe all occupations designed to assist the military authorities to partake of the same nature as actual combatant service.

[A written statement (in duplicate) accompanies the forms*].

Charles Record         

*This is on file and reinforces the points summarised here.

Decision of the Tribunal: [against which the appeal was lodged]

Stornoway 2^nd March 1916

The Tribunal refused the Application and recommend that applicant be relieved from combatant service and enrolled at once in the R.A.M.C. [Royal Army Medical Corps].

John Mackenzie Chairman.     

What Happened Next

The Pearce Register gives details of the penalties Charles duly underwent in accordance with his conscience: 

• Became an Absentee (i.e. left his place of residence), probably when the appeal was refused. 
• Arrested 30.6.16
• Drafted into the Seaforth Highlanders (having refused non-combatant service) 
• Court Martial at Ripon,14.7.16 - sentenced to 1 year imprisonment
• Served time in Northallerton (Civil Prison) and Durham (Civil Prison).
• Came before the Central Tribunal at Wormwood Scrubs, 1.9.16 - found to be CO class A, genuine
• Referred to Brace Committee for work under the  Home Office Scheme
• In work centres at Wakefield, 12-10-16, and Dartmoor, 28.8.17 and 21.2.1918.

[Murdo Macleod - see above - was also sent to the Seaforths, and court-martialled at Ripon]

First name(s)     Charles

Last name           Record

Occupation         Science teacher, Stornoway School Board

Age        24

Birth year            1892

Year       1916

Address               28, Point Street

Address 2            Stornoway, Isle of Lewis

Local authority  Stornaway Burgh

County Ross And Cromarty

Country                Scotland

Latitude               58.2

Longitude            -6.39

Ordnance Survey reference        NB420320

Motivation          Religious [and Internationalist]

Military Service Tribunal                MST (Military Service Tribunal) Stornoway Burgh 2.3.16 - refused; Ross, Cromarty and Sutherland Appeal 20.5.16 - refused, granted ECS (Exemption from Combatant Service) with a recommendation to RAMC; Central Tribunal at Wormwood S. 1.9.16 - CO class A, to Brace Committee

Central Tribunal                Central Tribunal Nos. W.1023 Class: A - Genuine

War Service        4 (R) Seaforth Highlanders; CM (Court Martial) Ripon 14.7.16 - 1 yr imprisonment.

Magistrates Court            Arrested 30.6.16

Magistrates Court comments     Absentee

Prison   Northallerton CP (Civil Prison); Durham CP (Civil Prison)

Work Centre      HOS (The Home Office Scheme, administered by the Brace Committee) 12.10.16 at Wakefield; at Dartmoor 28.8.17 and 21.2.1918

WO363 false

Sources                Tribunal 27.7.16; Cumbria RO(Carlisle)D/Mar/4/97; NA/WO86/71/38; Sanctuary Autograph Book WYB8/2/1; NA/MH47/1 Central Tribunal Minutes; Not found in NA/WO363; FH/SER/VOPC/Cases/7(1559); NAS/SC33/62/1/1;

Record set          Conscientious Objectors' Register 1914-1918

Not All Like Lambs to the Slaughter

A First World War Conscientious Objector from Lewis

Court-martialled on 11th July 1916

This blog has already looked at the cost to the Isle of Lewis of the First World War, and also at the situation of Conscientious Objectors (COs) to that conflict, in Britain generally and the London Borough of Ealing more particularly. Up until recently it has looked as though there were few if any Leodhasachs who took the courageous and perilous path of conscientious objection when conscription was introduced in early 1916, although there were many who applied for exemption on other grounds, particularly connected with their occupations: the hardship that would ensue if they were prevented from continuing their normal working lives, and/or the importance of those lives in the national context (e.g. food supply). It is with such cases that the Appeal Tribunal records from Lewis, among the few sets fortuitously to have survived, are mostly concerned. Not all applicants for exemption would have chosen or been allowed to take their cases to appeal if refused at the first hearing.

One young man, however, who was recognised as a "Class: A - Genuine" CO was Donald McLennan (MacLennan), a 20-year-old student from Balallan in the Lochs district. His is one of the only four records that come up on searching for "Stornoway" or "Isle of Lewis" on the nearly 17,500-strong Pearce Register, available via the IWM Lives of the First World War. (This does not necessarily mean there were no others; research on the subject is still on-going, with new names being discovered all the time).

What happened to Donald according to the record is as follows:

• Conscripted into the NCC (Non-Combatant Corps) Fort George; 
• NCC (Non-Combatant Corps) (2 Scottish) Hamilton CM (Court Martial) 11.7.16 [This was routine for COs who refused to obey a military order]
• Sentence to  6 months HL (with hard labour), commuted to50 days in Barlinnie CP (Civil Prison)
• Prison   Barlinnie CP (Civil Prison) 13.7.16 - 'Liberated by Military Authorities 26.7.16'
• HOS (The Home Office Scheme, administered by the Brace Committee) Transfer to Army Reserve Class W 16.3.17

The NCC means that Donald would have been granted partial exemption (ECS - Exemption from Combatant Service) by the local tribunal, whether at home or wherever he was studying at the time. His court-martial indicates that this was not acceptable to him, so he may have lodged an appeal for absolute exemption that was refused.

His case came before the MST (Military Service Tribunal) Central Tribunal which was set up at the end of July at Wormwood Scrubs prison in London as part of the evolving policy for dealing with COs nationally. The Central Tribunal found him to be a 'Class: A - Genuine' CO, suitable for referring to the Brace Committee administering the Home Office Scheme under which COs were sent to work camps.

Maclennan         Donald —          —          1914-20               First World War               Great Britain RNR

First name(s)     Donald

Last name           McLennan

Marital status    Single

Occupation         Student

Age        20

Birth year            1896

Year       1916

Address               Balallan

Address 2            Stornoway, Isle of Lewis

Local authority  Stornoway Burgh

County Ross and Cromarty

Country                Scotland

Latitude               58.2

Longitude            -6.39

Ordnance Survey reference        NB420320

Service number                ??

Motivation          -

Military Service Tribunal                MST (Military Service Tribunal) Central Tribunal at Wormwood S. 4.9.16 - CO class A, to Brace Committee  

Central Tribunal                Central Tribunal Nos. W. 1128 Class: A - Genuine

War Service        NCC (Non-Combatant Corps) Fort George; NCC (Non-Combatant Corps) (2 Scottish) Hamilton CM (Court Martial) 11.7.16 - 6 months HL (With hard labour) com.50 days Barlinnie CP (Civil Prison)

Prison   Barlinnie CP (Civil Prison) 13.7.16 - 'Liberated by Military Authorities 26.7.16'

Work Centre      HOS (The Home Office Scheme, administered by the Brace Committee) Transfer to Army Reserve Class W 16.3.17

WO363 true

Sources                NA/WO363/M852 - incomplete file; NA/WO86/70/197; NAS/HH31/29/1 - COs in Scottish Prisons July 1916; NAS/HH31/29/6 - Central Appeal Tribunal 1.9.16; NAS/HH21/70/54 Barlinnie CP (Civil Prison) 1916; NA/MH47/1 Central Tribunal Minutes

Record set          ConscientiousObjectors' Register 1914-1918

https://search.livesofthefirstworldwar.org/search/world-records/conscientious-objectors-register-1914-1918

Above: Transcription from the Pearce Register

1911 Census record for MacLennan family at 5, Balallan

John      MacLennan        Head     Married                Male      ?58         1857       Crofter, Weaver                  

Mary     MacLennan        Wife      Married                Female ?54         1855       Weavers Wife   

[3 older daughters have left home]

Patrick  Peter MacLennan            Son        -              Male      22           1889       working on Croft           
Donald John       MacLennan        Son        -              Male      16           1895       School   

Donald  MacLennan        Son        -              Male      14           1897       -              

Margaret Maggie            MacLennan        Daughter            Female 13           1898       -       School

Catherine Kate  MacLennan        Daughter             -              Female 10           1901       -     School

Ann MacKay       Sister-in-law [5 Balallan 1901]     52           Servant (Domestic) at no.5 in 1901

All are listed as having been born in Lochs, Ross & Cromarty, Scotland.        
 
Donald John b.1895 would have been 21 in 1916 and is therefore the more likely to have been the CO, rather than his younger brother Donald. (It was not unusual, of course, for siblings to share a first given name; they would be called after different people and would be known by different forms of the name, initials or nicknames.)

1901 Census record for MacLennan family at 5a, Balallan

1901

John      MacLennan        Head     Married                Male      44           1857       Weaver               

Mary     MacLennan        Wife      Married                Female 46           1855       Weavers Wife   

Patrick  MacLennan        Son        -              Male      12           1889       Scholar 

Iabella   MacLennan        Daughter             -              Female 11           1890       Scholar 

Johana  MacLennan        Daughter             -              Female 10           1891       Scholar

Mary Ann            MacLennan        Daughter             -              Female 8              1893       Scholar 

Donald John       MacLennan        Son        -              Male      6              1895       Scholar 

Donald  MacLennan        Son        -              Male      4              1897                   

Margaret             MacLennan        Daughter             -              Female 3              1898         

Catherine            MacLennan        Daughter             -              Female 0              1901       

The other three known COs from Lewis in the First World War were:

• Donald Morrison, a Divinity student, 22, from Garrabost
• Charles Record, 24, a Science teacher in Stornoway
• Murdo MacLeod, 29, a fisherman and crofter from Cromore.

More on their stories later.

Postscript
The tragic story of Malcolm Martin is not included with the above, since his appeal was made on the grounds not of conscientious objection but on the basis of his having made his life elsewhere and not having been "ordinarily resident" in Britain at the relevant time for conscription. This was not allowed. He survived the hostilities but was drowned on the Iolaire.

Malcolm Martin, SC33/62/1/34 p2

“The appellant is a shepherd who came to Lewis on a visit shortly before the outbreak of the present war. He was not therefore ‘ordinarily resident’ in Great Britain on August 15 last and the Military Service Act does not apply to him. Further, he was engaged in his occupation as a Shepherd at Punta Arenas, South America and when making said visit to Lewis his intention was and is to return to Punta Arenas where he has a troop of horses and other property – all his property and interests are situated there and Some are now requiring Appellants personal attention”.

As he was not ordinarily resident and his business remained in Argentina, Malcolm applied for absolute exemption on grounds of serious hardship. His appeal was refused on 31 March 1916 “in respect that applicant doesn’t come within the exceptions specified in the first schedule to the Military Service Act 1916”. - from Case Studies on Scotland's People.

Like Donald Maclennan, Malcolm Martin was from Balallan (a place with a certain tradition of dissidence and activism - well within living memory in 1916), so it is is quite probable that they knew each other.

********************

Not all of one mind...

MY MOTTO

Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori

But not being patriotic, I’m afraid I don’t agree.

For if I had a motto I am sure that it would be

Melius et dulcius est – semper ludere.

(Latin: melius = better; dulcius = sweeter; semper = always; ludere = to play)

 From:-

On the other hand:-

From 

Mind you, in their way, the COs may be said to have had something of the same spirit.