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MEN WHO SAID NO | ROAD TO CONSCRIPTION | OBJECTION | PRISONS | SENTENCED TO DEATH | TRIBUNALS | WIDER CONTEXT |
CHARLES GEORGE AMMON 1873 - 1960  

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Charles Ammon, born 1873, came from Bermondsey, south London, and was known affectionately to his friends as “Charlie of the Old Kent Road”. He worked for the General Post Office for 24 years as a clerk.

Active in the Independent Labour Party, he opposed British participation in the First World War, but did not have to face the issue of conscription directly until 1918, when the raising of the upper age limit for call-up brought him into the net. However, he was permitted by the Military Service Tribunal to continue his work for the Post Office. Unofficially, this enabled him to continue valuable work for the No-Conscription Fellowship as its parliamentary secretary, effectively chief lobbyist at Westminster, his ILP contacts being very useful.

After the war, he became Secretary of the Union of Post Office Workers, 1920-28, then first General Secretary of the National Union of Docks, Wharves & Shipping Staffs, and finally Organising Secretary of the Civil Service Union.

In the meantime, he was elected in 1919 to the London County Council to represent Camberwell, continuing (with a break) to 1946, including a term as Chair, 1941-42. He was also an Alderman on Camberwell Borough Council, including Mayor, 1950-51. He was elected MP for Camberwell North, 1922-31 and 1935-44. In the Labour governments of 1924 and 1929-31 he served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (the government department  then responsible for the Royal Navy), indicating that his opposition to war and armaments was limited.

His leaving the Commons in 1944 arose from his creation as a peer, Lord Ammon. This enabled Clement Attlee as Prime Minister in 1945 to appoint him as Chief Government Whip in the Lords (under the quaintly unpeaceful title, Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms) until 1949. He was also Deputy Speaker in the Lords, 1945-58.

Outside Parliament, his work included Methodist lay preacher, President of the International Arbitration League, and a governor of the London School of Economics.

 

 

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CO DATA

Born: 22 April 1873
Died: 2 April 1960
Address: Bermondsey, London
Tribunal: Bermondsey, allowed to continue present work
Prison:
HO Scheme: [1]
CO Work: Parliamentary lobbyist for No-Conscription Fellowship
Occupation: Postal worker

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