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MEN WHO SAID NO | ROAD TO CONSCRIPTION | OBJECTION | PRISONS | SENTENCED TO DEATH | TRIBUNALS | WIDER CONTEXT |
JOHN 'JACK' HULSE 1890 - 1976  

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John ‘Jack’ Hulse was the oldest child of a family who lived not far from Neston on the Wirral. His father, also called John, was a tenant farmer on the Burton Hall estate of Mr Gladstone (a close relative to the former Prime Minister), while his mother was an intelligent, religious woman.

Joining the Southport Borough Police in 1912, at 6 foot tall, Jack was a commanding figure in a constable’s uniform and in May 1913 received an award for rescuing a child a lake. He served until 1 Mar 1916, one day before the Military Service Act came into force, when he resigned.

Meanwhile Jack’s family were being pressured by other villagers. One family had lost two sons in the War and when Mr Gladstone's nephew was killed (he was very close to this young man since he and his wife had no children themselves) Jack was called into the Manor Offices to explain himself. Mr Gladstone insisted that there had been sacrifices made throughout the village and demanded that Jack should enlist. He told Jack, "I have lost my all" (referring to the death of his very dear nephew) and Jack looked around the office and replied, "Not quite all". The family were so grateful that his mother and Mrs Gladstone were very good friends, since Jack’s lack of tact here could otherwise have resulted in the family losing tenancy of the farm and accommodation.

On 23 March 1916 Jack appeared before the Wirrall Military Service Tribunal stating that he objected to any form of military service and that he was needed to run the farm due to the illness of his father.

Questioned on how he would act as a constable if a dispute arose in the street requiring his attention and whether he would use force to prevent crime, Jack said he was no longer a policeman but that he had never found it necessary to use force when he had been. Asked what would happen if the Germans came to attack his family, Jack explained that if God allowed this he would place himself between them and sacrifice himself. As an International Bible Student he believed God was allowing the present events in world history in preparation of Armageddon. Jack explained that God is not ruling over the actions of men at present. “The devil is ruling and is the principal power at this time. God is only permitting the present condition of things.” Jack was told to ‘leave God out of the picture’ but he insisted that he couldn’t do this. “But you have control over your actions. Would you not do anything to prevent the slaughter of innocents?” he was questioned. “As a Christian”, Jack explained, “I make no international distinction.”

Jack’s application and his appeal were refused. Enlisted in the Cheshire Regiment against his will, at one point he was put up against a wall and had a firing squad of men threaten to shoot him. He called their bluff saying “Shoot me then” but, of course, they had no authority to do so. He received a Court Martial for disobeying military orders in June 1916 and was imprisoned briefly in Chester Castle, being sentenced to 2 years hard labour, commuted to 28 days. Thereafter he was sent to Birmingham Civil Prison.

Eventually his case came before the Central Tribunal who classified him as a ‘CO class A’ allowing him to enter the Home Office Scheme. He was released and sent to work at the Llanddeusant, Llangaddock Waterworks, Llanelly RDC, South Wales, where he met up with a number of Bible Student colleagues and worked until the end of the war. During his incarceration Jack used his time by reading the Bible cover to cover and was known to have carried a Bible with him wherever he went for the rest of his life.

 

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CO DATA

Born: 1890
Died: 1976
Address: Corner House Farm, Burton, Burton
Tribunal: Wirral, Wormwood
Prison: xxx
HO Scheme: Llanddeusant [1]
CO Work:
Occupation: Policeman

Motivation: IBSA
[2]
ALTERNATIVIST

 


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