STAFFORDSHIRE APPEALS 1916-18 Moral Objections to War Context What Happened in Staffordshire

STAFFORDSHIRE APPEALS 1916-18 Context of 1914-1916 Statistics made Conscription Inevitable Political context meant Government under pressure & had to provide widely framed exemption for those who objected on grounds of conscience Religious objections Humanitarian objections

STAFFORDSHIRE APPEALS 1916-18 What Happened in Staffordshire Proportion of C.O.s similar to National Average – 2% Very Ordinary People Farm workers, labourers, skilled & blue collar Mostly 21 – 30 years old Well written, argued & presented Little evidence of professional support

STAFFORDSHIRE APPEALS 1916-18 Many Religions Christadelphians Methodists Anglicans Plymouth Brethren, Chr. Scientists, Jeh. Witnesses Other Christians No Quakers Only Christadelphians had full support of their Church

STAFFORDSHIRE APPEALS 1916-18 Many Political Groups ILP & Other Socialist Groups Trade Unions Believers in Internationalism Humanitarians who believed it was wrong to take human life

STAFFORDSHIRE APPEALS 1916-18 Tribunals Had Moral Problems as Well Ordinary people with no special training Local Authority or Crown appointed Difficult decisions for Country & Community Heavily influenced by Military Representative Could be VIP in community Problems defining Conscientious Objection Questionnaire was created

STAFFORDSHIRE APPEALS 1916-18 Tribunals Relied on Advice Local Government Board Circulars Generally anxious to identify rights of C.O.s But made it almost impossible to grant Absolute Exemption Guidance from Clerks Usually followed LGB Circulars Quote from Mr Loxton at Cannock His moral perspective having just lost his only son at the Front

STAFFORDSHIRE APPEALS 1916-18 What Happened to Those Who Took a Moral Stance? Arrested & Court Martialed Prison usually with Hard Labour Multiple prison terms for persistent refusal A few classified genuine C.O.s by Central Tribunal Accepted Non-Combatant alternative work Accepted Non-Combatant Service Could mean Non-Combatant Corps where nationally many suffered terrible brutality

STAFFORDSHIRE APPEALS 1916-18 Many Families Suffered Wives & mothers with no support but each other Farmers trying to keep farms & families together Enormous potential in Appeals system for social discord & unrest Not surprising papers were ordered to be destroyed