I have been doing some research into the experiences of my great-uncle Mark Prior who was a conscientious objector in the First World War. He went out to France with the Non-Combatant Corps.
 |
| Non-combatant Corps members at work |
Conscientious Objectors were deeply unpopular, so it must have required either great cowardice or great courage to be one. In Mark's case I am sure it was courage, linked strongly with his firm Chistian faith.
A letter dated August 25th 1917 was received from a hospital in France.
It reads:
Dear Mrs Prior
I presume that you know that your son is undergoing 8 months inprisonment for refusing to unload shells. I saw him with his six comrades last night. he was cheerful and appreciated my visit. he sleeps in a wooden hut and works in a gravel pit during the day. The food and the treatment are good. You have no need to worry. I shall keep in touch with him. Excuse more for I am writing to each home. Yours sincerely, (Rev) M Calvwell. Chaplain.
P.S. They have made a favourable impression on the warders. M.C.
The following typed letter was received by Mark's father (my great-grandfather) from a friend.... (Click on letter to enlarge it)
From France, Mark was sent Wormwood Scrubs Prison, and from there he was transferred to Knutsford Gaol, Cheshire, which had been redesignated Knutsford Works Centre, and where he had to do hard labour.
 |
| Knutsford Gaol - photo used with permission |
Life was tough at Knutsford.
I am indebted to the
Knutsford military historian Tony Davies for the following information: (his website is at www.tonydavies.me )
Almost 500 conscientious
objectors were housed in the prison by the end of 1917, and a total of over 800
passed through the gates in just under three years. The newspapers rhetoric mirrored that of the
public, who had no time for them. The local shops refused to trade with them,
and local workmen refused to work within the prison, now designated a ‘Work
Centre’. The newspapers often referred to it as ‘an invasion of the town.’ On arrival the conscientious objectors were
forced to change trains in Northwich and ’were subject to a considerable amount
of jeering at the hands of munitions girls’.
Under the headline
‘Indignant Knutsford’ the Manchester Evening News tells of ‘missiles being
thrown at conscientious objectors by youths’,
as they were just walking down the street. But the tension in the town
began to escalate.
In Jan 18 – several
conscientious objectors returning to the prison from an evening walk were
confronted by a ‘large mob of locals, who threw clods of mud at them’. More
conscientious objectors came out to help their associates, some carrying
sticks, ‘that they were not afraid to use without any violation of conscience’.
Only one injury – a wounded soldier who was taking no part in the fracas but
just talking to a friend. He received a blow to the head before the police
broke up the mob.
Under headlines such as
‘Firmness or Intolerance? It was announced that the Knutsford Town Council had
banned conscientious objectors from the public library. This, it was said was with the total
agreement of the ratepayers, though the right to exclude any ‘ respectable
person’ was questionable’ This decision
was applauded by a large section of the community. This story was carried by numerous other
newspapers throughout the country. The Freeholders, who it is recorded ‘were up
in arms’ later decreed that conscientious objectors would not be allowed to
play football on any enclosures on Knutsford Heath. The town’s Ladies Tennis
club passed a motion stating that ‘any member who associates with a
‘conscientious objector’ must resign at once.’
The freedom conscientious
objectors enjoyed angered the local people.
They were allowed Sunday bicycle rides – but coming back to much jeering
from the townspeople. One was knocked off his bike and a fight started – more
townspeople arrived brandishing sticks. At least 4 conscientious objectors
received bad cuts. Following this the local tradesmen refused to serve
conscientious objectors, resulting them having to go farther afield to get
foodstuffs. They were set upon again the following day and their bikes were
smashed. Appeals were made to remove the conscientious objectors from the
town. The Leeds Mercury went on, ‘here
they are wondering the countryside, free from the worries of the war and the
strain of war-work.’ The editorial suggested that those conscientious objectors
who fought should immediately be drafted into the army.
From Knutsford Mark wrote several letters home.
A letter written on Nov 12th 1917 changed from ink to pencil part way through. Presumably he didn't have a fountain pen and his inkwell ran dry! It reads
Works Centre
Knutsford
Nov 12 1917
Ny dearest Dad and Mother
I am just writing to thank you for your letters and also for
letting Ebb* come over for the weekend. You cannot imagine what a treat it was
to see him and the idea of seeing the girls next week is truly delightful although
I am afraid it is going to be very expensive for you and I cannot bear to think
of you having to do so much for us all.
Such a piece of
news reached me this morning - too late to tell Ebb. Questions have been asked
in Parliament by Philip Snowden about the condition of things in the 1st
Northern Co. Non-Combatant Corps**. He asked
whether the House was aware that the Company was subjected to brutal treatment
by the officer and non comm. Officers with the idea of coercing them into
joining a combatant regiment whereas the men had kept their part of the bargain
by sheer hard work. Also whether one of
the men had been subject to punishment for informing the Select Committee of
the state of affairs and if so what steps would be taken to have the punishment
…… (?) So poor old Bartlett has just about put himself in the
soup hasn't he.
Should the girls
come over for the weekend I would be awfully glad if they would bring me a
towel - bath towel in addition.
In great haste
for the post.
Love, Mark
*Ebb was Mark's brother Ebenezer - my grandfather.
** for more on the Non-Combatant Corps see www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-non-combatant-corps-2/
The next letter was several pages long, so I have reproduced one page here, and then typed the conents of the whole letter....
The Works Centre
Knutsford
Cheshire
Dec 17 1917
My dearest Father, Mother and Hannah
Very many thanks
for your letters and for the nice little parcel which you have sent me.
I am sorry to say
we have not ever had an acknowledgement of our letter of application for leave,
so I am in much doubt as to whether the agent here (who is a very careless sort
of chap) even sent it on to the Home Office Committee. I have therefore tonight
made a copy of the application and am sending it to Mr Stewart direct - with
what results remain to be seen. I much fear that xmas leave will not be
granted, but of course it may be granted and we must make it a matter for
prayer. It would be so nice to be with you all once more and you cannot tell
how I long to see you all. I am indeed sorry to hear that you Mother dear have
had a bad cold and hope you are better now. I myself am worlds better for the
open air job and have got quite a colour back and have quite got rid of the
little trouble I had and am now feeling quite fit.
It has been quite
nice working out of doors but it has been a bit of a pickle the last few days.
In digging this trench some 7 feet deep we tapped a running stream of water and
it has caused us a little fun as well as plenty of trouble. The sides of the
trench fell in once or twice - and talk about mud!! After work each day we are
a sight to behold - absolutely plastered and gammed up with mud. Standing in
water often times etc etc but despite it all I feel very very much better for
it which is the main consideration.
When you are next
sending will you please put me in a few shirt buttons - not pearl ones but the linen sort. Our
laundry mangles the pearl ones in more senses than one. Also, before returning
the shirts please mark them in front at the bottom of the neck opening with my
name small and with a larger mark "B 1/16" which is my room number.
I was pleased to
receive Wolshaw's letter and it is my intention to write to him at the earliest
possible opportunity.
It will be splendid
for you all if you can get to the South for the winter. I am sure it will be
better for you all than the cold and gloomy North.
One or two of the
shops here are now trying to boycott us but we have found out others who will
serve us. It does seem silly of people to do such absurd things.
I was very much
struck, as I think most people have, by the capture of Jerusalem. It makes one think that the coming
of the Lord Jesus Christ may not now be long delayed. Last Sunday night at our
little meeting we had a nice time thinking of that bright and blessed hope (1
John 3.1 to 3) and we also compared it with 1 Tim 1.1 where we find that that
hope is even more fully described in the words "the Lord Jesus Christ who
is our hope". So that it is not merely a thing or an event for
which we wait but for a person and He none other than the Son of the Living God
- the one who is over all God blessed for ever. More and more brethren seem to
be coming here and we are now quite a nice little company. One dear chap is
such a nice fellow - a Scotchy from Glasgow.
Now, dearest Dad,
with reference to the cutting you sent me. I rather think it would be better
not to write to Co. Hatto nor the Tribunal as they might think we were trying
to influence them. I am sure of this that if they get the L.G. Board's letter
they will favourably consider my case. As you know, I have not felt that I
could ask them to do anything much for me, and I don't feel very much inclined
to do so now, although I hope you won't feel
that I do not very very much appreciate the love that
prompts you to offer to do this and so many other things for me. I hope you
won't mind therefore in the circumstances.
How glad I should be to be free from all that encircles one at present
you know, but as the Lord has so far delivered me even far beyond my
expectations and much more than my weak faith deserved I feel I can confidently
leave it absolutely in His Hands and He carrieth them whithersoever He willeth
- and so do I believe it will be in this case but whether for total deliverance
or for remaining temporarily in these circumstances I do not know.
It is now supper
time so I hope you won't mind my now closing with the fondest love and kisses
from your ever loving
Mark.
No comments:
Post a Comment