John Peter, a Tamil-Zulu from South Africa, painting the FAU logo onto a Convoy truck Photo: Photo courtesy Peter Reynolds
The China Convoy: A great leveller
In the first article in a new series on the Friends Ambulance Unit’s ‘China Convoy’ David Brough, whose father Bill Brough served in the Convoy between 1941 and 1943, describes the composition of ‘the Unit’.
I never associated with chaps who have more mental vigour or spiritual dynamic. There are one or two among them, strange to say, who are not even Christian in their views. They are all vigorous pacifists and it is very interesting to see them trying to get things in order between their ideals and their practical necessity.
- Bob McClure, China Convoy
Despite its name, the Friends Ambulance Unit (FAU) in the second world war, like its first world war predecessor, was not an official body of the Religious Society of Friends. Thus, as an independent organisation, it was able to extend the opportunity it offered for humanitarian service to others beyond the Society – pacifists who shared a conscientious objection to taking up arms.
