On This Day, 1 January 1917

Evening Dispatch

Monday 1 January 1917

ARRESTED IN COURT

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR WHO WENT TO HEAR FRIENDS CASE.

William Ernest Littleboy, aged 31, of Oak Tree-lane, Selly Oak, accountant, was fined 40s. by the Birmingham magistrates to-day and ordered to be handed over to a military escort on a charge of being absentee since 23 November.

When arrested at 10 o’clock, he said to Detective-constable Wright, “It is against my conscience to take up arms or do anything to assist in the prosecution of the war. I have been before the Tribunal, and they granted me non-combatant service, but that is useless to me.”

Littleboy, addressing the Bench, said, “I wish to say, in obedience to what I believe to be a superior loyalty, I am not guilty in disobeying an inferior loyalty. I stand here because I believe I am following what is God’s will for me to be doing.”

Hugh Gibbons, aged 37, 4 Pakenham-road, Edgbaston, a conscientious objector who appeared to hear the case against Littleboy, was arrested in court and also fined 40s. and committed to a military escort. He said to Detective Wright, “I don’t intend to take up arms or do anything to assist this war.”

Gibbons told the Bench that his beliefs and understanding of war were such that he could not undertake any service to directly assist in the prosecution of the war.

Lieutenant Adams said those points had already been dealt with by the Tribunal, and they refused his appeal.

Gibbons said that was quite true. He added he could not accept any suggestion that he was a soldier or do anything in any way to cause him to be considered a soldier. He could take no part in killing his fellow-man or appearing to acquiesce in the belief that it was necessary to kill a fellow-man.