| Description | North Riding appeal tribunal number: 5715
Appeal against conscription of: Sidney Kemp Brown
Age: 17
Address: Sollershott, Letchworth
Occupation: Schoolboy
Local tribunal: York City Council
Central tribunal: No
Military Service Act 1916 or Attested: Military Service Act
Grounds for appeal: f) conscientious objection
Medical grade: Not stated
Appellant: Sidney K Brown
Summary of case: The appellant, a schoolboy of Bootham School, York appeals on the grounds of Conscientious Objection being a member of the Society of Friends from birth and attending a Quaker school. On 30 July 1918 the local tribunal gave the appellant to 1 Jan 1919 to join the Friends Ambulance Unit. The appellant states he will not join this unit and makes a further appeal to The National Service Department and local tribunal on this point. The appeal requests exemption up to Xmas 1918 when he will sit university entrance scholarship and later to take up either training for teaching or work under the Society of Friends, War Victim's Relief Committee in France making huts for refugees. Brown believes 'that not merely the taking of life but the whole system of militarism is inconsistent with the spirit of Christianity and cannot conscientiously accept work which is part of the organisation for war as the Friends Ambulance Unit under present conditions necessarily is'.
Supporting evidence: Yes
Date and decision of North Riding Appeal Tribunal: 18 Sep 1918. Allowed conditional that he join the Friends War Victims Relief Committee. |