Roland Pepper

Unknown

Formerly 10th Bn Liverpool Regiment On March 11th 1915, Aaron Pepper was granted one and a quarter hour's leave 'on account of his son going to the front.' (Headmaster's log Radford Boulevard Boys' School Nottingham). On July 19th 1916, Nottingham Education Committee was told that a special sub committee had deliberated over the ‘alleged unpatriotic conduct of a teacher’. Alderman Sir J T McGraith submitted a report , which included a copy of a letter which Aaron Pepper, assistant master at the Radford Boulevard School, admitted writing on 19th May 1916 to a German, Alfred Senff interned in the Knockaloe Internment Camp, Isle of Man. Observations about the letter by Detective Sergeant Castle were also submitted. The committee concluded ‘that they do not consider Mr Aaron Pepper a fit and proper person to continue to act as a Teacher…(and therefore recommended) that he be dismissed from the service of the City of Nottingham Education Committee (such a dismissal to take effect on 31st July.’ Pepper appealed ‘for mercy expressing ‘deep regret for a wicked letter and appealing for ‘forgiveness’. The Committee decided ‘That he be suspended from teaching until December 31st 1916 and that he be then re-appointed on probation only at a reduced salary at the rate of £100 p.a. for six months at the close of which period the question of continuing his services shall be further considered.’ Eighteen months later, the December 18th 1917 Education Committee meeting was told of the death of ‘Mr A Pepper late certified assistant teacher at Bulwell Quarry Road School.’ Aaron Pepper's letter has not survived. It is perhaps understandable that the Education Committee should have been concerned at (presumably) anti-war views being expressed by a teacher to an enemy internee. However, Pepper’s treatment seems unreasonably harsh. That he was obliged to grovel to avoid dismissal and his reduction of salary as a condition of continuing employment seem unnecessarily spiteful. David Nunn