ALBERT NORMAN BURRELL

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ALBERT NORMAN BURRELL 

Albert was born in May 1893 and died, aged 94, in 1986 in Chichester.   In 1916 he was a clerk at London Omnibus Co. Ltd. and lived with his parents at 98 Beresford Road, Harringay, in Hornsey.

He probably came from a comfortably-off family, his father describing himself in 1911 as a ‘retired gentleman – independent’ and the family lived in a 6 roomed house.

Albert appears to have been an absolutist, although we have no records of what happened to him after his case had been rejected by Middlesex Tribunal. His original application for absolute exemption was to Tottenham Tribunal on 13^th March 1916.  Not only did he apply under Clause f. (CO) but also under d. (Hardship) and e. (Illness – Albert was not robust had poor eyesight, neuralgia and was deaf in one ear.   He told the Tribunal that ‘Love and goodwill towards all men is much higher and nobler than hatred and crime’ and that he considered it ‘deeply immoral to injure and kill men’ and that he would refuse to take the military oath or come under military command whatever the consequences. Tottenham gave him exemption from combatant service only.

He appealed to Middlesex Tribunal saying that Tottenham could not have realised the depths of his belief

• They did not read out his statement either to the Tribunal or the Public
• There was no fair discussion and the hearing only lasted 4-5 minutes.
• He had been refused the right to call witnesses.

Middlesex not only refused his appeal, but also withdrew the exemption from combatant service certificate.

Nothing more is known.

National Archives/MH47

EDWIN ALBERT ARNOLD

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Edwin Albert ARNOLD

Edwin was a printer’s brass engraver who lived at 12 Thirlmere Road in Muswell Hill.  The only child of Rachel, a widow by 1916, he was born in 1886 and died in 1950 aged 64.

He applied for Conscientious Objector status on religious grounds;  he was probably a Quaker, being a member of the Muswell Hill Brotherhood Committee and the Muswell Hill Men’s Adult School Movement.

Wood Green Tribunal gave Edwin exemption from combatant service, but said he had to join the Non-Combatant Corps.   He appealed against this on the grounds that “non-combatant status makes me a participant in the destruction of humanity” and asked for work with the YMCA abroad.  This was denied him and he was forcibly enrolled into the 16^th Royal Fusiliers but was then transferred into the NCC at Shoreham, then Aldershot.

Edwin refused to stay and went absent without leave, but was arrested in Muswell Hill on 10^th May 1916 as an absentee.   From there he was handed over to the military and court-martialled in July.  He received 56 days Hard Labour, which he served in Winchester Prison.

Edwin continued to appeal for CO status and was heard by the Central Tribunal that August – they gave him Class A CO status and he was then placed by the Brace Committee in Work Centres:  Wakefield, Warwick and Dartmoor between January 1917 and October 1918

Pearce/IWM                            National Archives/MH47