BRHG Projects
Bristol’s WWI Conscientious Objectors
Last spring, based on documents in the Central Library, we published details of 47 men from Bristol who were imprisoned as conscientious objectors during World War 1. For moral, religious or political reasons they refused to take part in the war. Many people contacted us having seen these names and provided us with more information about these men or other conscientious objectors.
Nationally, Cyril Pearce, has been working for many years to compile a database of conscientious objectors. To date he has collated information about over 17000 men. We have been able to access this data and can now publish details of 350 men from Bristol and the surrounding area who saw themselves as conscientious objectors. Many were subjected to harsh conditions in prison. After the war many found it difficult to return to their jobs. Others agreed to serve in non-combatant roles like the Friends’ Ambulance Service. All paid a great price for having the courage to stand up for their principles.

2016 is the centenary of the introduction of conscription; the centenary of the imprisonment of the first of these men. We will be holding a number of events to mark this over the coming months. Now we have these 350 names we want to find out as much as possible about these men and their families. Please follow the links and help us if you can
Conscientious Objectors
We have been collecting a list of Bristol’s conscientious objectors. The list of names that we have found so far can be found in “Do You Have A Conchie In The Family?“.
Stuff linked to this project...
Articles

Refusing to Kill

Bedminster War Resisters

Steps Against War

Walter Ayles

Do You Have A Conchie In The Family?

The Christmas Truce(s)

Dockside Debate 2nd August 1914: The Movie

Should Britain Go to War With Germany?
Publications

Steps Against War

Refusing to Kill

Ring Out the Thousand Wars of Old

Slaughter No Remedy

The Bristol Deserter

Class Cohesion versus Spurious Patriotism

Strikers, Hobblers, Conchies & Reds

Bristol Independent Labour Party

Coal On One Hand, Men On The Other
Event Series

Commemoration, Conflict & Conscience

Resistance to War: German Perspectives 1914-1933

Resisting the War: Deserters, Conchies and Mutineers

Remembering the Real WW1 – Summer 1916

Remembering the Real WW1 – Autumn 2014

Remembering the Real WWI
Events

‘Spies and Troublemakers in Wales – 1914-1918’

Taking a Holiday – film premiere
International Women’s Day – BRHG webinars

Christmas Webinar 2: Steps Against War – Resistance to World War […]
Conscientious Objection during the First World War
Screening of Steps Against War film
Film Premiere: Steps Against War
The Art and Nature of Conscience
A history walk with puppets: Steps Against War
Otherstory puppet theatre: ‘Taking a Holiday’
Conscience Panel
Film showing – ‘The Last Clarion House’
Film showing – ‘Watford’s Quiet Heroes’
‘Emmerdale’s Conscientious Objector’
Conscientious Objector Stories From Around England 2
Mormon and Jehovah’s Witness Conscientious Objectors

Bristol Radical History Group Book Launch
Women Campaigning for Peace in World War 1
Opposition to Conscription in Wales and Ireland

Steps Against War

This Evil Thing
Slaughter No Remedy, Harry Patch, Walter Ayles and the First World War
History walk – ‘Canting Humbugs’: Resistance and reaction in […]
Otherstory puppet show: ‘Taking a holiday’ and research […]
Refusing To Kill: Walter Ayles and Harry Patch
Exhibition: Refusing to Kill
Outcasts, Cowards and Quakers – Re-examining the Conscientious […]
Refusing to Kill – Bristol’s WW1 Conscientious Objectors

Studio 1: Starting the flame: Agitators, Conchies and Miners in the […]

Who Refused To Kill?

Otherstory puppet show: On the Run

A Conscientious Concert
‘Refusing To Kill’

Life Gallery, Level 1: ‘Taking a Holiday’ puppet show

Studio 1: Refusing to fight

Studio 1: Women against World War One
Women and Conscientious Objection to Military Service
Slaughter No Remedy

Victims of the Somme

Slaughter No Remedy

Sylvia Pankhurst, The Dreadnought and the ‘Great War’

Bristol – Opposition to the First World War

Deserters, Conchies and Mutineers

Battle Of The Somme

Slaughter No Remedy

Discovering British 1914-1918 War Resisters

Unveiling of a Blue Plaque to Walter Ayles

Strikers, Hobblers, Conchies and Reds + The Berkeley Poachers’

Echoes of the ‘Great War’

Opening the Archives

Women Resisting the Great War

Hidden Histories of World War One

1914-1918: The War within the War

WWI Resistance

No Glory: The Real History Of World War 1
Book Reviews

The Nightmare Trail
Blog

Bristol – Hot spot of resistance to World War One

Victims of the Somme – Event Report
