| Description | North Riding appeal tribunal number: 1557
Appeal against conscription of: Thomas William Gibson
Age: 30
Address: Bent Rigg Farm, Ravenscar
Occupation: Farm foreman
Local tribunal: Scarborough Rural District Council
Central tribunal: No
Military Service Act 1916 or Attested: Military Service Act
Grounds for appeal: a) continue in current occupation, b) engaged in different occupation, d) serious hardship
Appellant: R. J. Hunter, employer
Summary of case: That Gibson is indispensable. He is managing foreman and has full charge of all the work. We ought to have three or four men but can't get them. To take him away would mean our land going out of cultivation. In additional to ordinary farm we have during the last two or three years got out 30 acres of land hitherto unproductive and bought it into cultivation fit and has cropped. Several hundred pounds have been spent on establishing a fruit farm and a forest tree nursery it is impossible to get an ordinary labourer (even they are not obtainable) to attend to these. Some thousands of fruit and forest trees must be planted out this Winter. This is not a district where labour is obtainable. There are 15 aces of barley oats and also 14/15 aces of potatoes. It is respectfully submitted that Gibson is in work of national importance i.e. the production of food. Already three of our men have gone to the war. I am not a practical farmer and am quite unable to do the work myself, having other business to attend to I also suffer from diabetes and am medically advised over exertion would prove fatal.
Supporting evidence: Yes
Date and decision of North Riding Appeal Tribunal: 23 Oct 1916. Appeal reheard 24 Oct 1916. Dismissed. |