Case study: conscientious objectors in the First and Second World War

What did the Military Service Act of March 1916 state?

All unmarried men of fighting age had to join the army.

Who were conscientious objectors (COs) in WW1?

Men who refused to fight in the war for religious or political reasons.

What belief did many conscientious objectors hold?

They were pacifists who believed war was always immoral.

Who were absolutists?

COs who refused to support the war in any way, even indirectly.

Who were alternativists?

COs who refused military service but accepted non-combat roles like stretcher bearing.

How many men applied for exemption from military service?

Around 16,500 men.

What was a tribunal in WW1?

A special court where men applied for exemption from military service.

Why were tribunals often criticised?

They were inconsistent and often unfair, varying by area.

How were absolutist COs often treated?

They were imprisoned, sometimes in solitary confinement.

How were some COs punished by the military?

They were sent to the front line and court-martialled if they refused orders.

What happened to COs sentenced to death?

The Prime Minister intervened and sentences were reduced to ten years in prison.

How did the government and press portray COs?

As unmanly, cowardly, unpatriotic and traitorous.

How did communities sometimes treat COs?

They were isolated, abused, or sent white feathers.

How were COs treated differently in WW2?

They were offered alternative work and prison was a last resort.

What attitudes towards COs remained in WW2?

Public hostility continued, including verbal abuse and job loss.