Pacifists who paid price for courage of their convictions

AT the start of the First World War Britain had the smallest regular Army of all the major combatants.

In response, Lord Kitchener used powerful propaganda to encourage more people to enlist and nearly 2.5 million answered his patriotic call to arms.

However, by the spring of 1916 with no end to the conflict in sight and the number of casualties rising by the day, the Government went one step further and, breaking with tradition, introduced conscription.

The new conscription laws did allow men to object or appeal against military service on grounds of occupation, hardship, faith or moral beliefs. It was a contentious move as many religious groups held pacifist beliefs.

Local tribunals were set up to assess individual cases and judge whether they were motivated by conscience or cowardice. Few if any of the conscientious objectors (COs) who went before the tribunals were given total exemptions. Most were ordered into the armed services or told to join the Non-Combatant Corps (NCC). The latter was established so that men with strong objections could still be conscripted and serve in supporting roles, but not actually be forced to fight.

However, there were some people, known as “absolutists”, who refused to make any contribution to the war effort. By disobeying orders as non-combatant, but conscripted soldiers they were court-martialled and punished. Many of them were imprisoned, often in shocking conditions.

Richmond Castle was a Northern base for the Non-Combatant Corps from 1916 and scores of people were sent there, including 16 men who stuck to their pacifist principles and refused to do anything to promote or contribute to the war.

Kevin Booth, senior curator at English Heritage, says both sides became increasingly entrenched. “The conscientious objectors were dragged on to the display ground in Richmond and forced to wear their uniforms which they promptly took straight off. They would rather sit in a cold cell than wear the military uniform.”

In May 1916, these 16 men were taken from Richmond against their will to an Army camp in northern France. This meant they were on active service where they could be shot for disobeying orders.

News of the story leaked out to the press after one of the men, John “Bert” Brocklesby threw a note from a train window on route to London. Later, a coded message was sent out saying they were in Boulogne. The “Richmond Sixteen” continued to defy military orders and when asked to help unload supplies, which all but one refused to do, they were court-martialled and sentenced to death.

Although there was little public support for the men’s stance, their harsh treatment aroused some sympathy. The issue was raised in Parliament where Arthur Rowntree, an MP for York and a Quaker, took up their cause and eventually the Prime Minister commuted the sentence to 10 years hard labour.

They returned home where they were sent to labour camps and civil prisons. After they were released many became social outcasts and Booth says that, although they stuck steadfastly to their pacifist principles, they paid a high price.

“Some of them struggled to cope and there is evidence that one or two took their own life. But Brocklesby turned it into a crusade, he talked about it for the rest of his life and always stood by his actions.”

Booth says the men’s stance, whether we support it or not, left a lasting legacy. “They challenged the legitimacy of the war and their actions were instrumental in starting a broader discussion about whether this is a decent way for any kind of society to behave.”