George Smith

My father applied to be a Conscientious Objector in July 1940 because of orthodox Christianity which teaches the necessity for recognising and obeying one's conscience.

This was refused (9/8/1940) because he was in a reserved occupation (auditor's assistant) and at or above the age of reservation of that occupation. So he would not be called up for service in the Armed Forces of the Crown.

Then he was told his case would be considered by the Tribunal (11/2/1942). The Tribunal was satisfied that he conscientiously objected to combatant Military Service. References were given by 5 people.

Registered as a conscientious objector (3/6/1942) until the end of the emergency , but must undertake fulltime A.R.P., N.F.S. or land work under and approved by a war agricultural committee.

He failed to do this work because his present employers desired to retain his services as an Audit assistant.

There was a question of whether he should have been allowed to stay in an accountancy job.

He was released from his obligation to undertake the work he was ordered to do for being on the Conscientious Objectors register (4/7/1946).