Western Daily Press (Saturday)
WW1 conscientious objectors revealed
THE names of hundreds of men who were imprisoned or barracked in a Yorkshire castle after they refused to fight in the First World War will be revealed for the first time.
Researchers have scoured more than 10,000 military documents to compile the list of 400 conscientious objectors who were sent to Richmond Castle in North Yorkshire during 1916 and 1917.
Curators said the men “deserve recognition” and appealed to anyone who can help them add to the list to come forward.
An English Heritage spokeswoman said the list of Richmond conscientious objectors was the most comprehensive in existence and would be included in a new museum due to open at the castle next week.
The Government passed the Military Service Act in 1916, which made military service compulsory for millions of men but included a conscience clause, which allowed men to object on moral grounds.
More than 20,000 men registered as conscientious objectors during the following two years and hundreds were sent to Richmond Castle.
The majority trained in the NonCombatant Corps, which involved wearing the Army uniform and being
These men played an important role in the future development of human rights RICHARD MASON
subjected to Army discipline, but not carrying weapons or participating in battle.
Those who rejected any military authority, known as absolutist conscientious objectors, were imprisoned in the castle cells.
Richard Mason, a curator with English Heritage, said: “Poring over the thousands of military records to identify these names has taken a great deal of detective work and being able to breathe life once again into these men’s stories has been a humbling experience.
“But we may still never know all of the names of those who passed through the castle and urge anyone who may have more information to come forward. These men played an important role in the future development of human rights and deserve recognition.”
The museum, which tells the story of Richmond Castle from the time of William the Conqueror to the First World War, will also feature a NonCombatant Corps uniform, a white feather letter sent to chastise objectors and other anti-objector propaganda.