By Ed Stozek
For the Herald

A total of 72,354 men throughout Canada applied for conscientious objector status during World War II.

In Manitoba, Judge Adamson vigourously challenged individual applicants with personal questions based on their pacifist beliefs and then decided if that person qualified as a conscientious objecter. The conscientious objector status allowed the men to participate in doing alternative service as opposed to enlisting with the armed forces.

Farmers’ sons could also be exempt from enlisting because they were essential workers needed to support the country at home.

Ben Kroecker’s father was a pastor at Morris. He also was a farmer who operated a mixed farm and derived his income from farming. When Ben got his draft notice in the mail, the church made an appointment and he practiced his obedience by going to Winnipeg to appear before the judge. In his 10-minute interview, Judge Adamson asked if Ben was ready to go to the barracks. Ben replied that he was needed on his father’s farm. After some deliberation, Judge Adamson deemed that it was not necessary for Ben to leave the farm. Ben’s older brother had previously served in a camp for four months in the Riding Mountain National Park doing alternative service work. Having two sons leave a farm could spell economic disaster as farm help was in short supply. As a consequence Ben’s father had to pay $15 per month to the Red Cross.

Some young men from other parts of Manitoba attempted to use their religious beliefs in objecting to serve in the armed forces. Mike D. from the postal district of Ukrainia was sentenced to nine months of imprisonment for failing to report for his four-month training stint after having been pronounced physically fit and after having received notice to do so.

Arrested earlier that week, Mike appeared before Magistrate Little and declared, “According to the word of the Lord, I am not guilty.” (May 1,1941, Dauphin Herald) Half an hour later he changed his plea when he admitted that he had misinterpreted the charge.

Mike had previously applied for a postponement of training and with 13 others from the Dauphin Judicial District, appeared before Judge Adamson in Winnipeg on Mar. 25.

Adamson heard the 14 young objectors and then advised them to report to their training. Except for Mike and two others, all were farmer’s sons asking postponement in order to help on their familys’ farms.

Mike declared that he would not appear for his training and was warned that he would be prosecuted if he did not turn up in camp on the designated date. Evidently having thought about the matter, Mike admitted that it would probably have been better if he had reported. He noted that he was not disloyal to the country and was willing to do some other sort of work that would help the war effort.

Walter B., age 21, became the second objector from the RM of Dauphin to be convicted under National War Service Regulations and was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment with hard labour at the Dauphin jail.

Walter was convicted in front of Magistrate Thomas Little on a charge of failing to report for medical examination for compulsory training after having received notice to do so.

Evidence produced in court showed that Walter had received his notice on Mar. 26, 1940, and was to have reported almost immediately.

He wrote to the Department of National War Services in Winnipeg explaining his stand. If he was not going to fight why should he take his examination for training? He was advised by the department to report within a reasonable amount of time and was warned twice of the penalty.

Walter noted that he had taken up studying the Bible, “Pretty near two years; since the war started.” (June 3, 1941, Dauphin Herald) He had been baptized in July 1940, by a farmer who lived north of Sifton. Six months later he was studying the Bible himself.

Some young men faced the consequences of failing to comply with the enlistment process. Others were deemed as conscientious objectors or as essential workers needed to work on the family farm.