| Description | North Riding appeal tribunal number: 2807
Appeal against conscription of: Robert Bell
Age: 28
Address: Town Head Farm, West Scrafton, Middleham
Occupation: Farm manager
Local tribunal: Leyburn Rural District Council
Central tribunal: No
Military Service Act 1916 or Attested: Military Service Act
Grounds for appeal: a) continue in current occupation, g) exempt occupation
Appellant: Robert Bell
Summary of case: Bell has been employed on behalf of his mother Mrs Cicely Bell of Town Head Farm for 14 years. The farm is 140 acres and has 120 sheep, ten milking cows and 20 head of cattle and two horses. His mother is 58 and nearly blind. On 5 Oct 1916 the local tribunal granted a three month temporary exemption but dismissed a further appeal for exemption in Feb 1917. Bell appeals against this decision with the help of A W Berry Solicitors at Northallerton. The case papers contain a letter from A W Berry on 21 April 1917 stating that the tribunal appeared to be of the opinion that Bells younger brother who was medically unfit was helping him on the farm. However, he left about a month ago to help Mr Harry Guy of New Biggin who had met with an accident. This means that Robert Bell cannot run the farm on his own. In May 1917, the North Riding Appeal Tribunal were not prepared to grant a further exemption
Supporting evidence: No
Date and decision of North Riding appeal tribunal: 15 Feb 1917. 7 Feb 1917. Allowed 1 May 1917. Final |