Conscientious Objectors - are there records for WWII available?

[Bella55]

Hi,  I am trying to find out whether a relative who would have been around 30 years old at start of WWII was a Conscientious Objector or working in an occupation that was exempt. 

Are there records of COs that are accessible to public?  He would have been living in Lanarkshire, Scotland at the time.

thanks,
Bella

[CaroleW]

Is he on the 1939 register?  You can see his occupation.    Rootschat does not allow publication of details from the 1939 register that can only be obtained via subscription

EDIT

I see from your other post that you already know his occupation!!

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=887464.msg7606472#msg7606472

[Bella55]

Thanks CaroleW.  I've just been reading up on how to apply for information about his entry in 1939 National Identity Register in Scotland so will follow up on that.

Whilst it's possible that he was exempt (construction worker), it's also possible that his beliefs meant he was a Conscientious Objector but there's no-one left from that generation in my family that can tell me which it was.

[I've also posted a query in the Scotland/Lanarkshire forum about exempt occupations though that was in relation to a different person who worked in steelworks in case there is confusion if anyone reads both posts!]

thanks
Bella

[CaroleW]

I'm confused as I read both posts and assumed it was the same person given the wording of the posts     

Are you making assumptions because you can't find WW2 records for them or do you have other reasons 

[manukarik]

Reserved Occupations list:

https://culturenl.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Reserved-occupations.pdf

You will see that age came into play too.  A lighthouse keeper was a reserved occupation at 18 and a Trades Union Official at 30.

[Bella55]

Apologies Carole for the confusion.  Reading them back, I realise I've not been very clear!

There are two relatives, both around same age (30s) and I think it's possible that either or both could have been Conscientious Objectors (because of religious beliefs).  However one worked in Motherwell steelworks and the other was a 'Bricklayer (foreman)' when he married just before war so I also think it's possible they were exempt.

None of their children remember either of them being in the military.  The wife of one of them had kept several momentoes of her brothers' time in military so I would have expected to find something of her husband's if he'd served in the military.

I am just hoping to find out whether the reason that neither was in military was related to their faith/beliefs or to their work.

best wishes
Bella

[Bella55]

Manukarik - thanks for the occupations list.  Very useful information,
Bella

[fiddlerslass]

You could try the National Archives. This is from their guide to records

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/conscientious-objectors/

Nominal lists of appeals (1939–1962)

Browse Discovery, our catalogue, for sample documents and nominal lists of conscientious objectors during and after the Second World War in LAB 45. These are arranged by surname.

Link to search LAB 45:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10160

[Bella55]

Thanks Fiddlerslass - some interesting links to follow up on.

Best wishes
Bella