World Service’s programme on world war one COs
Friends appear in a BBC World Service programme about conscientious objectors
THE BBC World Service broadcast a programme this month about the history of conscientious objectors (COs) in the first world war. WW1: Britain’s Conscientious Objectors is based on actual accounts from COs, taken from 1960s’ BBC archives, and was aired as part of the BBC’s History Hour.
The programme describes the hostility the 16,000 COs faced, encouraged by the pro-war British press. Pacifists, including Quakers, are heard making statements such as: ‘I felt it was an imperialist war’ and ‘I felt very strongly that I would much rather be shot than shoot anyone else’.
One CO talks of having spent three years in solitary confinement.
According to the programme: ‘Around 6,000 COs were arrested and forcibly sent to military units, court marshalled and sent to military prisons if they refused to obey military orders. And refuse they did.’
It also includes a contribution from an ex-soldier who describes the treatment he was ‘forced to mete out to these poor blighters’.
The programme is available on the BBC iPlayer.
Comments
I haven’t heard this programme but it seems that it perpetuates the half-truth that conscientious objectors were subject to unremitting persecution. In fact, conscientious objection to military conscription was allowed under law, thanks to the Quaker MP T. Edmund Harvey. It’s true that some COs were unfairly refused exemption from conscription but it is also true that many were allowed such exemption, usually on the condition they went into alternative work such as the Friends Ambulance Unit or civilian work deemed to be of national importance. There were some absolutists who refused even to apply for exemption, and they suffered duress as a result - but some would say their position was extreme.
By frankem51 on 30th August 2018 - 15:29
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