Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Newly released World War One documents reveal the men of Harringay who appealed against fighting
Newly available at The National Archives, the records from the Middlesex Tribunal which heard appeals from 1916-1918 from men who applied for exemption from military service on the grounds of infirmity, family or economic grounds are presently free to download and explore.
Interestingly, only a handful appealed on the grounds of conscience, just 577 out of 11,307 cases. The majority of cases were dismissed and the men went on to fight
As the Telegraph reports,
The files provide an insight into the impact of the First World War on families, businesses and communities far from the battlefields, and also lay bare the social tensions caused by the conflict, and the resistance of some men to serve.
The hearings were considered so sensitive that after the war, most files were destroyed.
Fortunately for local historians, one of only two sets of reports that were retained were those of the Middlesex Tribunals, which included Harringay in 1916-1918.
A quick search of Harringay throws up men from Hewitt Road, Stainhope (sic) Gardens, Mattison Road, Harringay Road, St Margaret's Avenue and many more familiar addresses.
Just one file picked at random reveals the story of Frederick George Bowen, 40, of 13 Duckett Road a Motorman with London County Council Tramway and a devoted Christian who was one of those who did apply for exemption on the grounds of "a conscientious objection to the undertaking of combatant service."
Frederick's appeal was upheld provided that he undertake work of national importance within 50 miles of London. Being a motorman in a service that was struggling to run with so many qualified men away at the front and was considered of national importance, he was given exemption provided he remained in his work and that a monthly report be sent to the military authorities stating he was still in post.
The file, downloadable for free at present, has letters attesting to his devoted Christianity and the sincerity of his beliefs as well as the forms and paperwork relating to his applications and appeals.
Many more stories wait to be uncovered here at The National Archives - who can you find on your street?
If this piques your interest, a reminder of the talk at Stroud Green and Harringay Library on Conscientious Objectors in Hornsey on March 8th
Tags for Forum Posts: National Archives, conscientious objectors, world war one
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Liz on
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Hi Jennifer,
I will most certainly be there!
Nosing around in my own family tree recently, I discovered that a member of my Norwich family was a CO. However, when I asked his niece, my 90 yr old Nana, about it she rapidly changed the subject and refused to speak of it. As he wasn't a Middlesex man, I probably won't be able to find out much more about it, as the records of tribunals were destroyed and my Nan is the last link to him, but it's clear that a hundred years later, the fact that a family member *didn't* fight in the war on moral grounds can still provoke strong reactions in those who were living much nearer the time.
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Bell on
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Liz,
Did you know that Cyril Pearce from Huddersfield and of Leeds University has produced an amazing database of approaching 17,000 COs in WW1 from all over the country? It will be put up on the Imperial War Museum's website later in the year and called, I think, The Pearce Register of WW1 COs, so you may well be able to find your family member on there. I've got info. on local men from parts of the database we've already got. I think your Nan's reaction is fairly typical of that generation - but, then, people often just didn't talk about their war experiences even if they or their loved ones were combatants!
Jennifer
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Permalink Reply by Maddy on
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My grandfather did not want to bear arms, but instead joined the London Field Ambulance and spent over two years in France and Belgium as a stretcher-bearer at many of the worst conflicts, including the Battle of the Somme, Ypres etc. He never spoke about his experiences but I feel it has had a lasting effect on our family over the past century.
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