WW1 Great Grandfathers Record (Navy or Consensus Objector)

[ShaunWADonaldson93]

I have been trying to find out about my great grandfather (William George Donaldson) during World War One. He was born 1892 in Portknockie, Banffshire. He was skipper of a steam fishing drifter but he was also a prominent member of the 'plymouth brethren' so there is the possibility he was a consensus objector but there is a very vague story he was possibly in convoys. I have contacted the society that are trying to compile a list of CO's but he isn't on anything they have. I'm hoping someone might be able to help.

[Maiden Stone]

You have posted this in World War 2 section. I'll ask a moderator to move it.

[KGarrad]

He was almost certainly in the Royal Navy Reserves(RNR) or the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserves (RNVR)?

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Naval_Reserve
And: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/royal-naval-reserve-service-records-1860-1955/

[ShaunWADonaldson93]

He was almost certainly in the Royal Navy Reserves(RNR) or the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserves (RNVR)?

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Naval_Reserve
And: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/royal-naval-reserve-service-records-1860-1955/

I would have thought so because other member of my family were all Navy for WW1 and WW2 but I can't find any records for him in the National Archive??

[Lola5]

Have you found him on the 1939 cnsus?
When did he die?


If he was a Conscientious Objector he must have changed his mind as  they were locked up and some taken to France and shot. See the  english heritage .org site and put in conscientious objectors of  WWI

He was only 22 when  WWI started
If in the RNVR then there are directions on that link on how to send off for records of next of kin.
 

[majm]

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/conscientious-objectors/

Includes the following :

<sup>.....

Only a small number of conscientious objectors were exempted from service absolutely. Most were obliged to serve in non-combatant roles or faced courts martial.

....

In 1921 the Ministry of Health decided that all papers relating to individual cases of exemption from National Service and tribunal minute books (except those of the Central Tribunal), should be destroyed. Thus the vast majority of files do not survive.</sup>


JM

[Albufera32]

Have you found him on the 1939 cnsus?
When did he die?


If he was a Conscientious Objector he must have changed his mind as  they were locked up and some taken to France and shot. See the  english heritage .org site and put in conscientious objectors of  WWI

He was only 22 when  WWI started
If in the RNVR then there are directions on that link on how to send off for records of next of kin.

CO s in the UK were jailed, but were not shot. Refusing to obey orders, put on uniform etc was/is only a capital offence in an active war zone (eg France) The MoD did transport some COs from the UK to France intending to make some sort of example of them, but the scheme became public and there was an outcry leading to the Govt ordering that the COs in question, known as the Richmond 16, were brought back to the UK and returned to prison (specifically Richmond Castle).

[KGarrad]

Have you found him on the 1939 cnsus?

There wasn't a census in 1939?

Perhaps you are referring to the 1939 National Register?
That was continuously updated, by the NHS, until the 1990s.

[HMac]

I have a William Donaldson serving as a deck hand on the Portknockie registered fishing boat BLUEBELL official number 115534 - year of birth 1892. He appears to have served on two half yearly agreements for the whole of 1915. All those aboard were from Portknockie.

I also have a William George Donaldson b. 28 April 1892, Portknockie, serving in the Merchant Navy in December 1918. His CR 10 card also has a mugshot photo of him.

Regards
Hugh