The plight of a conscientious objector

James Smith Black, a district superintendent for the Refuge Assurance Company in Whitby, applied for exemption on grounds of conscientious objection. His claim was soundly challenged by the military representative at his tribunal.

Yet James argued his case well and the tribunal granted him an absolute exemption, providing he continued his volunteer work with the St John Ambulance, which they accepted as work of “national importance”. However, the military representative was unhappy with the decision and appealed to the county tribunal, who also found in favour of James and subsequently dismissed the appeal.

At this point, the military representative took a course of action that seems underhanded. He appealed to the Central Tribunal in London without informing James and, crucially, without stating that exemption was on grounds of conscientious objection. He stated that the exemption was given because of James’s work with the St John Ambulance, which, he argued, was not of national importance. The Central Tribunal agreed.

The first James knew of this decision was when he received his call-up just days later. When he refused to respond, he was arrested but continued to challenge the decision and the conduct of the military representative.