Impression sketch
of a tribunal - by Jamie. From an original image that can be seen at: <http://www.ppu.org.uk/learn/infodocs/cos/st_co_wwone.html>
[Accessed: 23 February 2016]
With the Derby
Scheme
Leading to compulsory enlistment,
Tribunals were
set to hear reasoning
Beyond the
medical, for a contingent
Declaring selves 'conscientious objectors'.
Herne Bay
Military Tribunal,
Heard a claim for
total exemption;
A young male
engineer a member
Of Open Brethren - his beliefs were
Ruled by
Bible, which was his evidence.
On this Military Tribunal,
Mr G. Blaiklock
declared, he knew that
Non-resistance
was belief in Society
Of Friends, but
unaware of existence
In the religious
body of Open Brethren.
As he stood before
the panel,
The applicant
received questioning
As to his exact
reasons for not
Wanting to fight - Mr Beetonson
Highlighted contradictions in the Bible.
An 'eye for an eye' doctrine
Was quoted - the applicant replied
The impossibility of contradictions
As the bible was God's word;
The impossibility of contradictions
As the bible was God's word;
Imagine then the enemy at his door.
Mr Blaiklock then suggested,
What if Germans attacked his mother
What if Germans attacked his mother
And sister, and a
rifle was close
By - would he not
use this gun
In order to
defend his own family?
Accepting he
might if they
Were at his door — the chairman added
That their boys
over there were
Doing just that, halting the Hun -
The engineer
acknowledged the fact.
The Applicant
believed
How his country normally appreciated
Any recognition of
religious
Convictions - a counter argument
Was Germans might invade England.
Furthermore such a situation
Would occur, if everyman
had the same
Ideals - that was
conjecture,
The man replied that
God would
Help those that called out to him.
Yet did not god
help those
Who helped
themselves? The fact
Was for need of sufficient men -
They had to be sent
out to halt
German forces landing
in Britain.
The engineer
applicant
Argued how he could
not help to build
Bridges for troops - nor might
He work on a
minesweeper,
That would assist
war ships.
With these
objections
He did not object
to work in Army
Pay Corps, or in
medical work -
This then the
chairman said
Could be arranged
- he agreed.
A conclusion of
tribunal
Being presented with
this the appeal,
For conscientious
objection
Was allowed - but
appellant was
Referred to Royal
Army Medical Corps.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1916. Conscientious
Objection - Interesting Exchange of Views. The Daily Telegraph,
[online] 23 February
1916. P.7. Col.4. Available
at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12165487/Daily-Telegraph-February-23-1916.html
[Accessed: 23 February 2016].
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