Issue 2: Effect of the War on Scotland Conscription and Conscience https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na_qVy_Nl-4

Issue 2: Effect of the War on Scotland – Anti-war Attitudes Even as late as 1918 the vast majority of Scots supported the war, however there were prominent anti-war groups: The Independent Labour Party was a socialist party separate from Labour who had a strongly pacifist attitude, its pacifist newspaper “Forward” was closed down. The Union of Democratic Control (UDC) was an anti-war organisation that opposed conscription, censorship and other DORA restrictions. A left wing organisation, famous UDC members included the future Labour Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald. UDC members were often threatened with arrest or violence from members of the public or accused of being traitors. At its highpoint in 1915 the UDC had 300,000 members though this dropped to 10,000 by 1918.

Issue 2: Effect of the War on Scotland – Conscription and Conscience Conscription was seen as yet another increase in the power of the state at the cost of individual liberty. Due to a shortage of volunteers military conscription was introduced in January 1916 for unmarried men from 19-40. Later this was extended in May 1916 to married men. Why did the government do this? By 1918 men up to age 51 with military experience could be conscripted.

Issue 2: Effect of the War on Scotland – Exemptions to conscription Not all men were forced to join the army, there were exemptions: Physical or mental impairment Work of national importance e.g. coal miners. Conscientious objectors (conchies) who objected on moral/political ( e.g. a socialist/pacifist) or religious grounds ( e.g. a pacifist religion such as Quakers or Jehovah's Witnesses)

Issue 2: Effect of the War on Scotland – Treatment of Conchies Those wishing to avoid military service had to appear before a military tribunal to prove their case. Tribunals needed as many men as possible for the war so found most cases unproven. Overall, 16,000 men in the UK objected to fighting. They can be split into 3 groups: around 7,000 ‘conchies’ agreed to join the army in non-combat duties e.g. stretcher bearers, ambulance drivers. ‘Alternativists’ did non-military work of national importance e.g. farming or coal mining 1,500 Absolutists refused all military service and were sentenced to military prison and hard labour, at least 73 died in prison.

Issue 2: Effect of the War on Scotland – Treatment of Conchies The families of ‘conchies’ suffered too, many were ostracised, refused service in shops etc. Some conchies were not released till August 1919 showing the depth of ill feeling towards. Even when released after the war many conchies found it hard to get work or be accepted.