Case study: Concientious objectors in the first and second world wars

Question 1

What did the Military Service Act make compulsory?

Answer 1

March 1916: Unmarried men 18-41 had to go to war.
May 1916: Married men too
1918: From Ages 18-51

Question 2

What were Conscientious objectors (COs)?

Answer 2

Men who refused to fight due to their:
Religion
conscience
political view

Question 3

What were “absolutists”?

Answer 3

Pacifists - Refused to support the war.

Question 4

What were “alternatives”?

Answer 4

refused to carry weapons but did jobs such as stretcher-bearers, food suppliers, and drivers.

Question 5

What was the job of Tribunals?

Answer 5

To check the reasons of COs as almost 16500 men made the request not to go to war in the UK.

Question 6

What were the issues with Tribunals?

Answer 6

• Tribunals were local so it was not all done at the same harshness (Varied outcome).
• Panel Members were old men with traditional views.

Question 7

What was the treatment of Absolutists?

Answer 7

Faced imprisonment or solitary confinement, some COs were punished by being sent to France (the front line of the fighting), sentenced to death, or 10 years of imprisonment.

Question 8

Why were COs treated so harshly?

Answer 8

• Bad influence on others
• They were harassed for not going
• fighting was presented as a man’s duty
• the government saw it as necessary to force people into fighting as they were desperate for men.

Question 9

What was the treatment of COs during WW2?

Answer 9

• Prison became a last resort, otherwise, COs would be used as farmworkers, etc.
• WW2 was represented as fighting against tyranny: Propaganda. brutal government.
• Public opinion is more hostile against COs, some COs were abused or attacked.
• Peace Pledge Union, actively campaigned against war, they were put on trial but their case was dismissed.