List of the names mentioned in the tribunals is at the bottom of the page. Last updated 12/10/03.

World War I - Local Tribunals

Introduction

After war broke out in August 1914, the government unanimously dismissed a proposal for compulsory military service. Over 3,000,000 men volunteered to serve in the British Armed Forces during the first two years of the war. In 1915 a national register for service, the 'Derby Scheme' (after Lord Derby the Director-General of Recruiting) was adopted. Men between the ages of 18 and 41 could enlist as volunteers or could attest; in effect be under obligation to join the forces if and when they were called to do so. However, the high casualty rates on the Western Front and the falling number of voluntary recruits led to two Military Service Acts in January and May 1916, ensuring that all those eligible to serve 'king and country' were now forced to report for duty. King George V issued a statement on 25th May 1916:

'To enable our country to organise more effectively its military resources in the present great struggle for the cause of civilisation, I have, acting on the advice of my Ministers, deemed it necessary to enrol every able-bodied man between the ages of eighteen and forty-one'.

The January Act conscripted only single men and widowers aged 18 to 41 and without dependants, but the May Act extended the call up to married men and at the end of the war married men of fifty were being conscripted into the army. Local Tribunals were set up throughout England to hear pleas for exemption from military service. Grounds for exemption included poor health, essential work, family circumstances or conscientious objection. It was left to local councils to choose the people who actually sat on the tribunal. Each tribunal panel contained one army-selected member who attended every hearing and had the right to cross-examine each applicant. Conscription caused real hardships particularly for small farms worked by family members. The tribunals were reported in the local paper and the following cases concern the parish of Northbourne. Although the reports are brief they provide useful information about ages, occupations, size of farms and family situations during the second half of the Great War.

Deal Walmer and Sandwich Mercury 18th March 1916

Eastry Local Tribunal

The tribunal for the parish of Eastry District sat on Monday morning at the workhouse. Admiral Sir. R. Henderson presided, and others present Messrs. H. W. Plumptre, H. E. H. Rice, F. S. Cloke, F. A. Cloke, with Mr. A. F. Kennedy as military representative.

The Advisory Committee recommended six months exemption in the case of John William Bedwell, 23, of Marley, Finglesham, who is manager for his widowed mother of 8 acres of market garden land. He was carrying on the business single-handed. Two brothers were in the Army and another brother was expecting to be called up. Six months granted.

On the ground that his widowed mother was entirely dependant on him Henry William Wyborn, 22, of How Wall, Finglesham, was granted six months exemption. His mother (by whom he is employed) in support of the application, stated that he had managed the farm and market garden land of about 30 acres, since his father's death.

In the case of William Geo. [George] Fagg of Stoneheap Farm, Northbourne, attested and single, the Committee recommended total exemption. The applicant stated that he was farming 290 acres (245 arable), and had four men and a youth working for him. Six months exemption granted.

No appearance was made in support of applications by Mr. Thomas P. Scott (Lord Northbourne's Steward), on behalf of two farm hands (horseman), W. T. Fagg, 27, and A. E. Marsh 21. Mr. Scott wrote that if it was not absolutely necessary that the men should continue to be engaged in the work on the farm Lord Northbourne would not have allowed him to apply for their exemption. The case was adjourned. [later granted six months exemption].

Mrs. Thomas, West Hill House, Finglesham, made application on behalf of her groom and gardener, Geo.[George] Spinner, 25. Exemption disallowed.

Mr. A. C. Birch, farming 300 acres at Ham, Eastry, applied for a horseman, F. Kingsford, 19, on the ground that farm hands were unobtainable. Granted six months exemption.

Hy [Henry] Terry, West Street Farm, Eastry, who is managing for his mother, his late father's farm of about 180 acres, was granted conditional exemption and a horseman in his employ, Stephen Johns, in his 19th year, was also allowed six months exemption.

Deal Walmer and Sandwich Mercury 25th March 1916

Eastry Local Tribunal

Percy Pritchard, 25, attested and recently married, in support of his application said that his brother, who had also attested, were carrying on the business of market gardeners at Finglesham for their father, whose illness prevented him from taking any active part in the business. He and his brother did the marketing. They had not yet done any of their cropping. - Two months exemption.

On the ground of the shortage of farm hands, Mr. F. Belsey, Updown Farm, Eastry applied for the exemptions of two horsemen, H. G. Amos and John Amos. Two of his men had already joined up. Six months exemption granted in each case.

Total exemption was given to W. W. Johnson, Ham, Eastry, who had been medically certified as unfit.

Deal Walmer and Sandwich Mercury 1st April 1916

Eastry Local Tribunal

In support of his application for three of his farm hands Mr. Steed of Marley and Finglesham farms stated that six of his men had joined the colours and he could not replace them, and six months exemption was granted, William Laming, horseman and John Dutton, stack builder and thatcher, while in the case of John Rye four months exemption was given, Mr. Steed stating that he was trying to arrange for a woman to take Rye's place.

Deal Walmer and Sandwich Mercury 8th April 1916

Eastry Local Tribunal 

Mr. Chapman applied on behalf of Charles Brett, 38, horseman and Ernest Harvey, 38, cowman, employed on his farm at Little Mongeham, his application being made on the ground of shortage of farm hands. Six months exemption granted in each case.

Mr. Newing, dairy farmer and market gardener Finglesham, applied on behalf of James H. Wanstall, 27, married, a milkman, and engaged in market garden work. Six months exemption granted.

Mr. Steed of Finglesham applied for exemption of a milkman and stockman, Stephen Ledner, 28, on the ground of shortage of farm hands. Six months exemption granted.

Deal Walmer and Sandwich Mercury 20th May 1916

Eastry Local Tribunal

Mr. Thomas P. Scott (Lord Northbourne's Steward) appealed for the following of Lord Northbourne's employees, on the ground of shortage of farm hands - Charles Keeler (38) married, thrashing machine feeder and farm worker; granted conditional exemption. William J. Marsh (36), married, shoeing smith, granted conditional exemption. Albert Dutton (34), married, thatcher, three months exemption allowed.


Mr. A. C. Birch, Ham Farm, Eastry applied on behalf of Fred Kingsford (19), horseman who had previously been granted six months exemption, and this was now confirmed (this being another case which had to be considered under the age question).


Hy Pritchard (31), married, in support of his application, said that he and his brother - whose period of exemption would shortly expire - were carrying on the business of market gardeners at Finglesham for their father, whose serious ill-health prevented him from taking any active part in the business - Conditional exemption was granted, but appellant was given to understand that he would probably have to join up if his brother failed to pass for military service.

Deal Walmer and Sandwich Mercury 3rd June 1916

Eastry Local Tribunal 

Percy D. Pritchard (25), who had previously been given two months extension of the certificate. Appellant, who is in the employ of his father, Mr. D Pritchard, market gardener, Finglesham, is a horseman and attends the markets. His elder brother, married, had been granted conditional exemption. - It was pointed out to applicant that he had been given two months in order to make arrangements for his place to be filled. - The Tribunal refused further exemption. - Appellant intimated that he would appeal to the County Tribunal.

Deal Walmer and Sandwich Mercury 10th June 1916

Eastry Local Tribunal 

Mr. William Harvey, market gardener, and the licensee of the "Crown" Inn Finglesham, applied for his son, Alfred Harvey (28), working as a market gardener - One month's exemption given.

Deal Walmer and Sandwich Mercury 17th June 1916

Eastry Local Tribunal 

William Howland (40) employed as waggoner and ploughman by Messrs. Fagg and Son Stoneheap Northbourne - Conditional exemption.

Mr. E. M. Fuller (41 November next), master miller, Northbourne, was granted conditional exemption. [Ernest Mackney Fuller was a Sergt. in the local Volunteer Force and died 17 Sept. 1957, aged 82.]

[Number of cases being considered leads to two tribunal sittings the following week.]

Deal Walmer and Sandwich Mercury 24th June 1916

Eastry Local Tribunal 

Mr. A. C. Birch, Ham Farm, Eastry, made application for Edward Brisley, 38, waggoner, and conditional exemption given.

Conditional exemption given to Mr. P. W. Steed, farmer, Finglesham, who appealed for Ernest Burnap, 19, waggoner's mate. Mr. Steed, said it was quite impossible to replace Burnap at present, but he was quite willing for him to undertake Military Service at Michaelmas - Exemption until 11th October granted. [Percy W. Steed of Finglesham Farm.]

Mr.G. V. Cook, farmer and market gardener, of Finglesham, who stated that he was carrying on his farm of 30 acres single-handed - granted conditional exemption.

Deal Walmer and Sandwich Mercury 1st July 1916

Eastry Local Tribunal 

Charles F. Foad, 36, farmer Northbourne, (who stated that four of his men had joined up, and he was unable to replace them) - given conditional exemption. [C. Foad of Almonry Farm, Northbourne, announced birth of a son on 26th Sept. 1916.]

Deal Walmer and Sandwich Mercury 8th July 1916

Eastry Local Tribunal 

Applications were made on behalf of four employees on Lord Northbourne's estate, Mr. Thomas P. Scott, estate manager, appealing for Walter L. Fagg, 29, waggoner having charge of four horses: Albert Fagg, 39, under shepherd: J. T. Chapman, 40, head shepherd, having the care of 1,500 Southdowns, while Mr. C. W. Clark, estate engineer, applied for J. E. Pierce, 18, who drives the oil engine and attends the windmill. It was stated that more than half the employees had left since the outbreak of war. - In giving 2 months' exemption in Pierce's case the Tribunal intimated that they could not hold out any hope of any further period of exemption being granted, and Mr. Clark was advised to make every effort to procure the services of a man of non-military age. - The waggoner and two shepherds were granted conditional exemption.

Deal Walmer and Sandwich Mercury 9th September 1916

Eastry Local Tribunal 

Conditional exemption given to A. Dutton, 34, threshing machine feeder and assistant engine driver, employed by Lord Northbourne (this man was previously granted 3 months exemption on the 15th May last).

Conditional exemption, William George Fagg, 30, working farmer, Stoneheap Farm, Nr. Deal.

Deal Walmer and Sandwich Mercury 16th September 1916

Eastry Local Tribunal 

Conditional exemption, H. W. Wyborn, market gardener and farmer Howe [sic] Wall, Finglesham.

Conditional exemption, A. S. White, 32, horseman to his father at Telegraph Farm, Tilmanstone. [Albert Southey White who died July 1959 Aged 75 years.]

Conditional exemption, John Bedwell, 23, market gardener, Finglesham.

Deal Walmer and Sandwich Mercury 7th October 1916

Eastry Local Tribunal 

Conditional exemption, S. C. Ledner, 28, Stockman, J. Dutton, 36, stacker and thatcher, and W. G. Laming, 36, waggoner, all employed by Mr. P. W. Steed.

Other results, E. W. Burnap, 19, waggoner's mate to Mr P. W. Steed, Marley Farm, Finglesham.

Deal Walmer and Sandwich Mercury 21st October 1916

Eastry Local Tribunal 

Six months exemption, F. J. Kingsford, 19, horseman, employed by Mr. A. C. Birch, farmer, Ham, Eastry.

Six months exemption, J. H. Wanstall, 28, milkman, employed by Mr. Jas. Newing, dairy farmer, Finglesham.

Deal Walmer and Sandwich Mercury 11th November 1916

Eastry Local Tribunal 

Conditional exemptions were granted to William Moat, 42, builder and licensed victualler, Hare and Hounds, Northbourne.

List of names mentioned above:

Amos H. G. 25 March 1916
Amos John 25 March 1916
Bedwell John William 18 March 1916, 16 Sept 1916
Belsey F 25 March 1916
Birch A. C. 18 March 1916, 20 May 1916, 24 June 1916, 21 Oct. 1916
Brisley Edward 24 June 1916
Brett Charles 8 April 1916
Burnap Ernest 24 June 1916, 14 Oct. 1916
Chapman Mr. 8 April 1916
Chapman J. T. 8 July 1916
Clark C. W. 8 July 1916
Cook C. V. 24 June 1916
Dutton Albert 20 May 1916, 9 Sept. 1916
Dutton John 1 April 1916, 7 Oct. 1916
Fagg and Son 17 June 1916
Fagg Albert E. 8 July 1916
Fagg Walter L, 8 July 1916
Fagg William George 18 March 1916, 9 Sept 1916
Fagg W. T. 18 March 1916
Foad Charles F. 1 July 1916
Fuller Ernest Mackney 17 June 1916
Harvey Alfred 10 June 1916
Harvey William 10 June 1916
Harvey Ernest 8 April 1916
Howland William 17 June 1916
Johns Stephen 18 March 1916
Johnson W. W. 25 March 1916
Keeler Charles 20 May 1916
Kingsford F. 18 March 1916, 20 May 1916, 21 Oct. 1916
Laming William 1 April 1916, 7 Oct. 1916
Ledner Stephen 8 April 1916, 7 Oct. 1916
Marsh A. E. 18 March 1916
Marsh William J. 20 May 1916
Moat William. 11 Nov. 1916
Newing Mr. 8 April 1916, 21 Oct. 1916
Northbourne Lord 18 March 1916, 20 May 1916, 8 July 1916, 9 Sept. 1916
Pierce J. E. 8 July 1916
Pritchard D. 3 June 1916
Pritchard Henry 20 May 1916, 3 June 1916
Pritchard Percy 25 March 1916, 20 May 1916, 3 June 1916
Rye John 1 April 1916
Scott Thomas P. 18 March 1916, 20 May 1916, 8 July 1916
Spinner George 18 March 1916
Steed Mr. 1 April 1916, 8 April 1916
Steed Percy 24 June 1916, 7 Oct. 1916, 14 Oct. 1916
Terry Henry 18 March 1916
Thomas Mrs. 18 March 1916
Wanstall James H. 8 April 1916, 21 Oct. 1916
White A. S. 16 Sept 1916
Wyborn Henry William 18 March 1916, 16 Sept 1916