 |
| A view of Burrafirth, Unst, Shetland |
- Military Service Tribunal, Shetland 23.3.16, granted Exemption from Combatant Service only
- Sent to Non-Combatant Corps, Fort George 6.3.17
- Court Martial at Hamilton 13.3.17, sentenced to 112 days hard labour, Wormwood Scrubs prison
- Central Tribunal at Wormwood Scrubs 27.4.17
- - refused to accept alternative service under the Home Office Scheme
- Released and returned to unit 15.6.17
- Court Martial at Hamilton 21.6.17 - sentenced to 1 year.hard labour; Barlinnie Prison
- Released to rejoin unit 22.11.17;
- Hospital, Hamilton 29.12.17 - 1.1.18 (Scabies) 7.3.18 - 6.3.19
- Diagnosed with 'Delusional Insanity', sent to Dykebar War Hospital, Paisley 6.3.19-13.6.19
Although
Alexander Cook seems to have been the only CO admitted to Dykebar Military
Hospital, there is an interesting parallel with an Australian soldier whose
aberrant behaviour (“disorderly conduct”) - which may be seen as amounting to a rejection of his role in the war - led to the same eventual diagnosis
of “delusional insanity”. He survived the experience of Dykebar, however.
Information (edited from http://harrowercollection.com/hornew.html, with thanks to PG for the tip-off):-
William
Horn (not Horne) enlisted with A Company 35th Battalion AIF on the 11th of
December 1915 and was an original member of the Battalion and left Sydney on
board HMAT A24 "BENALLA" on the 1st of May 1916. Whilst AT SEA on the
23rd of May he was Charged for being Absent Without Leave from 14:00 to 22:30
and was Awarded 14 days Fatigue duty and [forfeited] 1 day’s pay. William disembarked
AT Plymouth, England on the 9th of July. William was marched to the 9th
Training Battalion but 2 month later transferred to the 17th Battalion and
proceeded overseas for France on the 30th of September 1916.
After
arriving in Etaples, William joined the 54th Battalion AIF on the 12th of
October but found himself in trouble again on the 18th of November 1916 and was
again Charged with being Absent From Billets, from 07:30 17/11/1916 to 16:00
18/11/1916. Admonished by Lieutenant C. E. SHAW Forfeits 2 Days’ Pay.
A
couple of days later William was sent to the Australian Field Ambulance on the
22nd but rejoined his unit again that afternoon but was sent back to hospital
on the 30th of November. A week later William was transfered to the Australian
Casualty Clearing Station suffering from Mental Deficiency and on the 26th of
January he was transfered to the 8th General Hospital at Rouen as being Mental[ly
ill].
William
was evacuated back to England on the 3rd of March 1917 and admitted to the
Royal Victoria Hospital at Netley and remained there for nearly a week before
again being transfered to the Dykebar Hospital at Paisley as a Mental Patient.
He remained at Dykebar
until the 29th of August and was transfered to the Lord Derby Hospital at
Warrington. After a history of disorderly conduct and in and out of Mental
Hospitals, William was returned to Australia on board HMAT A72
"Beltana" on the 18th of October 1917 for discharge due to
'DELUSIONAL INSANITY' and disembarked at Sydney, Australia on the 13th of
December and was discharged as Medically Unfit on the 23rd of January 1918.
Alexander Robert Cook
Marital status Single
Occupation Schoolteacher
Age 40.5
Birth year 1877
Year 1917
Address West
Unst [Westing, Unst]
Address 2 Shetland
Local authority North
Isles County District
County Orkney &
Shetland
Country Scotland
Latitude 60.74
Longitude -0.88
Ordnance Survey reference HP607073
Service number 3776
Absolutist Yes
Motivation Presbyterian
Military Service Tribunal MST
(Military Service Tribunal) North (?), Shetland 23.3.16 - ECS (Exemption from
Combatant Service) only; Central Tribunal at Wormwood S. 27.4.17, refused to
accept HOS (The Home Office Scheme, administered by the Brace Committee)
conditions
Central Tribunal Central
Tribunal Nos. W.3337 Refused HOS
War Service Fort
George 6.3.17; NCC (Non-Combatant Corps) (3 Scottish) CM (Court Martial) (4
Scottish) 13.3.17 Hamilton 112 days HL (With hard labour) Wormwood S.; released
and returned to unit 15.6.17; CM (Court Martial) Hamilton 21.6.17 - 1yr.HL
(With hard labour) Barlinnie CP (Civil Prison); released to rejoin unit
22.11.17; Hospital, Hamilton 29.12.17 - 1.1.18 (Scabies); 7.3.18 - 6.3.19
'Delusional Insanity'; Dykebar War Hospital, Paisley 6.3.19-13.6.19
War Service comments Died
in Dykebar War Hospital 13.6.19; Mental illness NOTE the WO363 file contains a
great deal of medical detail
Prison Wormwood S.
16.3.17 to 15.6.17; Barlinnie CP (Civil Prison) 25.6.17 to 23.11.17 released to
unit
WO363 true
Notes *The NA/WO363
file gives his next-of-kin as his sister at 12, Atholl Place, Edinburgh
Sources NA/WO363/C1668;
NA/WO86/74/145, 76/117; LMA/4417/01/016 - Wormwood S. Nominal Register;
NAS/HH21/70/55 Barlinnie Register 1916-1919; NA/MH47/2 Central Tribunal
Minutes; FH/SER/VOPC/Cases/2(4026)
Record set Conscientious
Objectors' Register 1914-1918
=============================
Robert McKay came from Finstown in Orkney, but not much else is known about him in the context of conscientious objection to the First World War; his motivation is not stated. Although he is said to have been in prison, he was evidently not one of the ultra-hard-line Absolutists, and accepted the terms of the Home Office Scheme. Like many others, he was eventually sent to work at Dartmoor.
Robert McKay
Age -
Birth year -
Year -
Address Finstown
Address 2 Finstown
Local authority Mainland County District
County Orkney & Shetland
Country Scotland
Latitude 58.98
Longitude -3.18
Ordnance Survey reference HY322119
Motivation -
Work Centre HOS (The Home Office Scheme, administered by the Brace Committee) 25.5.17 been in prison then at Broxbourn, leaving for Dartmoor 18.5.17; 28.8.17 at Dartmoor
WO363 false
Sources Collins Notebook; FH/SER/VOPC/Cases/5(4236); Not found in NA/WO363;
Record set Conscientious Objectors' Register 1914-1918
=============================
Alexander Guthrie Tulloch was a 21-year-old student in 1916. He seems to have accepted the decision of his Military Service Tribunal on 25.8.16 that the should be granted Exemption from Combatant Service only, conditional on his being willing to serve in the RAMC. No doubt bidding farewell to Stromness, where he lived, he was sent to the Non-Combatant Corps at Fort George and apparently served with no major disputes or incidents from 16.10.16 until demobilisation on 21.2.19.
 |
| The harbour at Scapa Flow, of great importance in both world wars |
Alexander Guthrie Tulloch
Marital status Single
Occupation Student
Age 21
Birth year 1895
Year 1916
Address Plainstones
Address 2 Stromness
Local authority Stromness Burgh
County Orkney & Shetland
Country Scotland
Latitude 58.96
Longitude -3.3
Ordnance Survey reference HY250090
Service number 3072
Motivation -
Military Service Tribunal MST (Military Service Tribunal) 25.8.16 - ECS (Exemption from Combatant Service) conditional on RAMC
War Service NCC (Non-Combatant Corps) 16.10.16 Fort George, NCC (Non-Combatant Corps); Home: 16.10.16 - 21.2.19, Demob.
WO363 true
Sources NA/WO363 - on line - incomplete
Record set Conscientious Objectors' Register 1914-1918
=============================
John Addison Findlay had visited Orkney as a 15- or 16-year-old on a fishing boat in 1901, according to the Pearce Register transcription. Other evidence (1911 Census, birth record, affiliation) strongly suggest that his home was in Cullen. He was a member of the Plymouth Brethren, one of the denominations most consistently opposed to the war, and would probably have encountered several co-religionists in the course of his trials and troubles as a CO.[After being denied full exemption by the local Tribunal, if he applied:-]
- Sent to the Gordon Highlanders [and presumably refused to obey orders]
- Court Martialled at Aberdeen 8.6.17
- Sentenced to 9 months with hard labour) commuted to 140 days
- Wormwood Scrubs Prison 18.6.17 to 23.9.17
- Came before Central Tribunal at Wormwood Scrubs 3.8.17, judged CO "Class: A - Genuine"
- - referred to Brace Committee and sent to Dartmoor 23.9.17.
Occupation Fisherman*
Age 32
Birth year 1885
Year 1917
Address *
(1901) [236 Seatown, Cullen, in 1911]
Local authority -
County -
Country Great
Britain
Latitude -
Longitude -
Ordnance Survey reference -
Motivation Plymouth
Brethren
Military Service Tribunal MST
(Military Service Tribunal) Central Tribunal at Wormwood S. 3.8.17, CO class A,
to Brace Committee
Central Tribunal Central
Tribunal Nos. W. 4008 Class: A - Genuine
War Service 4
Gordon Highlanders; CM (Court Martial) Aberdeen 8.6.17 - 9 months HL (With hard
labour) com.140 days, Wormwood S.
Prison Wormwood S.
18.6.17 to 23.9.17 to Dartmoor
Work Centre HOS
(The Home Office Scheme, administered by the Brace Committee) 23.9.17 to
Dartmoor
WO363 false
Notes *Occupation in
1901 census and registered on a fishing boat in Kirkwall harbour, Orkney
Sources NA/WO86/76/92;
LMA/4417/01/016 - Wormwood S. Nominal Register; Not found in NA/WO363;
NA/MH47/2 Central Tribunal Minutes;
Record set Conscientious
Objectors' Register 1914-1918
1901 Census showing First
name(s) Last name Relationship Marital
status Gender Age Birth year Occupation
 |
| Birth certificate, Pitsligo 1884, for John Addison Findlay. (Note parents married in Cullen). |
James Findlay Head Married Male 49 1852 Fisherman Cullen,
Banffshire
Maggie Findlay Wife Married Female 47 1854 Portknockie,
Banffshire
Isabella Findlay Daughter Single Female 25 1876
Jane Findlay Daughter Single Female 20 1881 Fishworker
George Findlay Son Single Male 17 1884 Fisherman
James Findlay Son - Male 14 1887 Fisherman
Jessie Findlay Daughter - Female 11 1890 Scholar
(All except Maggie said to have been born in Cullen, Banffshire, Scotland)
(All except Maggie said to have been born in Cullen, Banffshire, Scotland)
[Address given as Cullen, with no street/ house number]
As noted above, according to the Register, John, 16 in 1901, was away from home on census night, on a fishing boat at Kirkwall. Other names are consistent with the 1911 image below and with his birth record.
As noted above, according to the Register, John, 16 in 1901, was away from home on census night, on a fishing boat at Kirkwall. Other names are consistent with the 1911 image below and with his birth record.
 |
| 1911 Census image for the Findlays at 236 Seatown, Cullen |
 |
| 236 Seatown, Cullen, summer 2016 |
Alexander and George Mair were from the Seatown in Cullen too, and would certainly have been known to John Findlay, the more so as they were about the same age, and fellow adherents of the Plymouth Brethren (such religious groupings were and are strong in the fishing communities of the north-east).
Alexander,the elder by 2 years (32 in 1917), was sent to the Gordon Highlanders Depot, then -
- Court Martialled at Aberdeen 29.5.17 - sentenced to 112 days with hard labour
- in Wormwood Scrubs Prison 8.6.17 to 28.8.17
- before Central Tribunal at Wormwood Scrubs 20.7.17, judged "Class: A - Genuine"
- - referred to Brace Committee
- - sent to Home Office Scheme Work Centre in Kew Gardens 28.8.17.
Alexander Mair
Age 32
Birth
year 1885
Year 1917
Address * (1891)
Address
2 Cullen*
Local
authority Cullen Burgh
County Banffshire
Country Scotland
Latitude 57.69
Longitude -2.82
Ordnance
Survey reference NJ510670
Motivation Plymouth Brethren
Military
Service Tribunal MST (Military
Service Tribunal) Central Tribunal at Wormwood S. 20.7.17, CO class A, to Brace
Committee
Central
Tribunal Central Tribunal Nos. W.
3938 Class: A - Genuine
War
Service Depot Gordon Highlanders CM
(Court Martial) Aberdeen 29.5.17 - 112 days HL (With hard labour), Wormwood S.
Prison Wormwood S. 8.6.17 to 28.8.17 to Kew Gardens
Work
Centre HOS (The Home Office Scheme,
administered by the Brace Committee) 28.8.17 to Kew Gardens
WO363 false
Notes *Family address in 1891 - father a fisherman.
'F' George and Alexander Mair, brothers.
Other
Conscientious Objectors in family Yes
Sources LMA/4417/01/016 - Wormwood S.
Nominal Register; Not found in NA/WO363; NA/MH47/2 Central Tribunal Minutes;
Record
set Conscientious Objectors'
Register 1914-1918
["F" refers to Conscientious Objection as the grounds for applying for exemption from military service - there were half a dozen other possible grounds under the Acts]
George Mair
["F" refers to Conscientious Objection as the grounds for applying for exemption from military service - there were half a dozen other possible grounds under the Acts]
George Mair
Occupation Boat builder*
Age 30
Birth
year 1887
Year 1917
Address 39, Seatown *
Address
2 Cullen
Local
authority Cullen Burgh
County Banffshire
Country Scotland
Latitude 57.69
Longitude -2.82
Ordnance
Survey reference NJ510670
Motivation Plymouth Brethren
Military
Service Tribunal MST (Military
Service Tribunal) Central tribunal at Wormwood S. 20.7.17, CO class A, to Brace
Committee
Central
Tribunal Central Tribunal Nos. W.
3939 Class: A - Genuine
War
Service Depot Gordon Highlanders CM
(Court Martial) Aberdeen 29.5.17 - 112 days HL (With hard labour), Wormwood S.
Prison Wormwood S. 8.6.17 to 26.8.17 to Dartmoor
Work
Centre HOS (The Home Office Scheme,
administered by the Brace Committee) 26.7.17 to Dartmoor
WO363 false
Notes *Family address and his occupation in 1901
census. 'F' George and Alexander Mair,
brothers.
Other
Conscientious Objectors in family Yes
Sources LMA/4417/01/016 - Wormwood S.
Nominal Register; Not found in NA/WO363; NA/MH47/2 Central Tribunal Minutes;
Record
set Conscientious Objectors' Register
1914-1918
1901 Census record for Mair family in Cullen [no street/ house number given]
James Mair Head Married Male 49 1852 Fisherman Rathven,
Banffshire
Margaret Mair Wife Married Female 48 1853 Fisherman's Wife
George Mair Son Single Male 14 1887 Boat Builder Sandhaven,
Aberdeenshire
John
Wm Mair Son - Male 12 1889 Scholar Cullen, Banffshire
Ann
Mair Falconer Mother-In-Law Widow Female 70 1831 - Rathven,
Banffshire
[George, at 14, is already working as a "Boat Builder"; Alexander (16) is presumably away from home, perhaps working elsewhere, on census night.]
From Cullen:
 |
| A view over the Seatown Cullen, late 20th century |
 |
| A more impressionistic view |
 |
| COs at work camp |
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