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

2. STAFFORDSHIRE APPEALS 1916-18
Context of
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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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