Alexander Pengilly was one of many Conscientious Objectors to go through a long and arduous Tribunal process before receiving exemption from military service. When Conscription was introduced in early 1916, Alexander applied to the local Twickenham Tribunal on several grounds - that he was, as a bootmaker, employed in work vital to the national economy, that, with a mother, father and sister dependent on his income, undergoing significant domestic hardship and that, most importantly to Alexander, as a member of the Plymouth Brethren, he was determined to hold to his conscientious principles and reject war. He maintained that he could not be involved in warfare in any capacity as "To do evil indirectly is just as bad as doing it directly, and worse".

His hearing on the 27th of March 1916 saw his Conscientious Objection ignored, and his other grounds for exemption dismissed. On appeal, his reasons were reexamined and the Middlesex Appeal Tribunal granted him a temporary exemption. This meant that his callup would be delayed, but would also mean re-applying for exemption. Alexander appeared at the Twickenham Tribunal time and time again throughout 1916, each time re-stating that his conscientious objection to warfare was the core reason for his application - and each time having it ignored. Though the Tribunal dismissed his Objection, they did slowly come around to his argument that his work was essential to the local economy. By the end of the year, he had his exemption confirmed - conditional on his remaining in the bootmaking business and taking on clients from local refugee and veteran organisations.