The military and civil authorities were always looking out for COs who refused to report to barracks after being turned down by the Tribunals. Charles Lighton was a young socialist CO who applied for exemption on political grounds. After being rejected from the Hackney tribunal, like many other COs, he decided to ignore the military completely. He went on holiday! In October 1917 along with Stanley and Cyril Ogilvie he was arrested while rowing at Newport Pagnell. Charles managed to stay out of the military with the help and support of people who sympathised with the CO cause and were determined to help Objectors evade the army. As the military often couldn’t understand why someone wouldn’t turn up to barracks voluntarily, this was sometimes not difficult! When caught, Charles was fined and handed over. He would spend the next year and a half on the Home Office Scheme.
He spent much of the war in Wakefield prison where the COs were able to produce plays.  After release and a period of unemployment he became an organizing secretary for the Holiday Fellowship.  Resuming his scientific career, he worked on the early development of colour photography and then for many years at ICI paints division.