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Many of those who applied for exemption from compulsory military service were not conscientious objectors. The application made by Douglas Merry, a 30 year old wine shop manager in Finchley, was based largely on economic grounds. According to the wine shop owner, Frank Snell, Merry was the only person left capable of running the business, as his own son was serving at the front. The tribunal judging his case extended Merry's exemption by a further four months, on the proviso that he continued his volunteer work as a 'special constable' and with the fire brigade.