Military Tribunals – Richard Smith WARMINGTON

He was landlord of the Bell Inn and had 4¼ acres of market garden land. He had a wife and four children. In answer to the Military Representative, applicant said his sole object in attesting was so that he might appeal and get off. The Military Representative expressed his surprise at this statement. Applicant said he was told that to attest was his only course. Mr Binyon said many men were told that to attest was the only way to get off. The Chairman said such men were studying themselves, not the country. Applicant said he had been in the Territorials and was discharged before the war after four years' service. The Clerk said a case of appeal from the Pebworth Tribunal was now before the Central Appeal Tribunal in which the question was raised as to whether a man discharged from the Territorials before the war was exempt.

The matter had been referred to the Central Authorities, but they had given no direct answer to the question as to whether the man is liable for service.

Mr O H New also appeared in support of the application of Richard Smith Warmington, married, for a renewal of his certificate. Applicant is landlord of the Bell Inn, Badsey, and has 4½ acres of market garden land. Mr Walter Warmington (applicant’s father) gave figures to show that he had no time to look after his son’s business.

Mr O H New appeared for Richard Smith Warmington (27), married, Bell Inn, Badsey, beerhouse keeper and a market gardener with 4¼ acres of ground.

Richard Warmington (27), married, appealed as occupying 4½ acres of land at Badsey; he also keeps a beerhouse. Mr O H New appeared for him. Mr Walter Warmington, father of applicant, gave evidence that he had no time to look after his son’s business.

Richard Smith Warmington (28), Badsey, who had been given a temporary certificate, said that he had formerly 4½ acres, but since the last hearing he had taken over another 12 acres in order that it should be properly cultivated. Mr Oliver New was for the applicant. Captain Glanfield: “You took over this land from patriotic motives; patriotism thrilled your soul?” Applicant: “Well, I thought you would never take me from my 4½ acres. There are several men who had conditional exemption with less land than I had.” He called William Knight, who said that he had 18 acres, and, when his men were called up, he handed over 12 acres to Warmington, who was doing the land well. Captain Glanfield elected that Knight was over 50, and characterising the arrangement as an extraordinary transaction, said: “You find you cannot cultivate the land yourself so you deliberately hand it over to a man of military age.” Knight said that he was not in the best of health.