| Description | North Riding appeal tribunal number: 5671
Appeal against conscription of: John Rolph
Age: 49
Address: 4 High Street, Redcar
Occupation: Tailor
Local tribunal: Redcar District Council
Central tribunal: No
Military Service Act 1916 or Attested: Military Service Act
Grounds for appeal: a) continue in current occupation
Appellant: John Rolph
Summary of case: I am a Tailor with a business established by me 17 years ago on the same premises which I now occupy. I have substantial business amongst the residents of Redcar and district and am the only Navy and Military Tailor in the town. I have done Naval and Military work for 17 years past and this forms a substantial part of my business. I am every day executing all sorts of repairs for both Officers and men of the Naval, Military and Royal Air Force. This is urgent work and I give preference to it over Civilian work. I am the only Tailor in the town who does it and otherwise they would have to go to Middlesbrough. At the outbreak of War, I had 8 men employed and no females. Now I have only a one-legged man and 10 females. The man has done nothing but Naval and Military work for 4 years past. I do all the buying, selling, measuring, Cutting, pressing and fixing for the girls myself. I work 12 hours per day and often on Sundays. I am the sole directing head of, and all my capital is in the business and if I have to go it will be closed absolutely and I will be financial ruined, and the connection built up by so many years of hard work will be lost. There are 3 other Tailoring establishments in Redcar and one of these has to join up on 1st October next. I ask for exemption from Volunteer service on the ground that my time is fully occupied on work which is of National Importance. I have very defective sight suffering from Cataract on the left eye and Astigmatism in the right eye and I am under the treatment of a Manchester eye specialist.
Supporting evidence: No
Date and decision of North Riding Appeal Tribunal: 4 Sep 1918. Allowed to 1 Feb 1919. |