James Maxton and John Maxton were born in Barrhead, near Glasgow. James was a socialist and a schoolteacher who was dismissed by the Barrhead School Board because of his CO stand. His application to a tribunal was held up because he was charged with sedition over supporting striking shipyard workers, and served 12 months in prison. On release, he was allowed military service exemption conditional on working on barges. In 1922 he was elected MP for Bridgeton, Glasgow, and held the seat until his death in 1946, speaking up for COs in WW2. His younger brother John was imprisoned as a WW1 CO, before working in the Home Office Work Centre at Wakefield. James and John both had sons who became COs to National Service after WW2.

Lord James Maxton, also a CO, talking about his relatives.

Brother of James Maxton