1 November 2016

The Men Who Said No
1 November 2016 – 29 January 2017

York Quakers have opened a new display at York Castle Museum as part of the 1914: When the World Changed Forever exhibition, looking at the stories behind the Conscientious Objectors of the First World War. The Men Who Said No will focus on the centenary of the Military Service Act 1916, which introduced conscription, and will look at York’s 220 known Conscientious Objectors.

Ros Batchelor, of the York Meeting of the Society of Friends, said:

“After much research, York Quakers are able to tell the story of the men who challenged conscription during the First World War including railway carriage cleaners and clerks, teachers and tailors, postmen and printers.

“For some, the stand they took came from deeply held religious views; for others their socialist ideals led them to refuse to kill their fellow workers.

“The display at York Castle Museum will feature what happened during and after the war to some of these men, and also some women.

“It will also include poignant extracts from personal statements in applications for exemption from military service and documents thought to have been destroyed in the 1920s, but found recently at North Yorkshire Record Office.”

The display will look in greater depth at a number of Conscientious Objectors to illustrate the range of occupations, their reasons for refusing to join the Army, and what happened to them after the war ended. This includes:

Alfred Martlew, a ledger clerk at Rowntrees and a socialist said in his application for exemption:

“I am convinced in my own mind of the complete futility, inefficacy and wastage of war as a means of settling any kind of quarrel or grievance existing among Nations.”

He was one of the Richmond 16, the group of conscientious objectors forcibly enlisted into the Army in May 1916. For steadfastly refusing to obey military orders, these men were held in prison at Richmond Castle, sent to France, where the death sentence was pronounced, but commuted to 10 years in prison with hard labour.

York M.P. Arnold Rowntree was instrumental in ensuring that these and other C.O.s returned to Britain but was vilified after the war for his promotion of the ‘conscience clause’. Alfred Martlew spent a year after his return in various prisons and work centres. In July 1917, he was found drowned in the River Ouse and is buried in Bishopthorpe Churchyard.

Walter Russell Brain, who aged 19 with a school-boy knowledge of photography was put in charge of X-rays at the FAU hospital set up in the Rowntree offices at Haxby Road. This experience led him to study science rather than history, and to a very distinguished career in medicine. He became Sir Russell Brain and later Lord Brain.

The conscientious objections of the three Cooper brothers who lived on Wentworth Road took them in different directions. Laurence Parsons Cooper was allowed absolute exemption, which was very rarely given, to stay in his work organising transport at the Olympia Corn and Seed Mills in Selby. Alfred Cooper was permitted to work as a market gardener in Malton. Later, both he and Laurence became radio operators in the wartime Merchant Navy. Edmund Cooper went into the Friends Ambulance Unit and earned the Croix de Guerre for bravery. The Community Room display includes a full size model of part of an FAU ambulance.

Andrew Britan, 35 years old, a Quaker and teacher at Haxby Road School for 13 years, applied in 1916 for absolute exemption. It was granted provided he continued teaching. The military representative successfully challenged the decision and in June 1916 Andrews was forcibly drafted into the 3rd Northern Non-Combatant Corps at Richmond Castle.

He refused to put on a uniform or obey other military orders and was punished and humiliated by imprisonment and by being made to stand out in the public castle courtyard in his underwear. He continued to totally refuse to co-operate with military service and eventually served four sentences adding up to over two years in prison. He emigrated to Tasmania in 1921, where he died in 1969; he appears never to have taught again.

As part of her ongoing research, Ros is appealing for a photograph of Andrew Britan. If you can help please contact Ros Batchelor via Friargate Meeting House, peacenetwork@yorkquakers.org.uk or 07425 289334.

The Men Who Said No will run in the Community Room at York Castle Museum from 1 November 2016 – 29 January 2017.

The Community Room is part of the First World War exhibition 1914: When the World Changed Forever and invites local groups to display works related to the First World War.