Conscientious Objector

[agedpink1]

A Belper Conscientious Objector was court-martialled in August 1916. Henry Smith was the son of Belper County Councillor and shopkeeper George Smith, a Quaker, who attended the hearing. He was charged with disobeying a military order. He had been granted exemption from combatant service, but then failed to report in when called up. He had been convicted at Belper Police Court and fined 40 shillings before he was handed over to the military. When moved to barracks, he then refused to sign certain papers, hence the court martial.  Smith argued that he should not be tried twice, and his wish to be a conscientious objector should be recognised. The prosecutor argued that the magistrates had been wrong to give a verdict in the first place as the case was a military matter. The case was adjourned in order that the facts could be properly considered.

The thing is I can't seem to find out what happened next! 

Any ideas?

Regards Richard

[johnboy]

As a non combatant he would still have been under Army rules and regs. Disobeying an order was a serious offence.

[corisande]

As you probably know the Belper News is available On FmP

 

However the last report I can find on him is 1Sept, when they say they are waiting the court martial results, but never appear to publish anything at a later date.

[ilkley remembers]

If he was court Court Martialed, the records may be amongst those held at the National Archives some of which are available through Ancestry's premium service Fold3, so I understand

[IPT]

Henry Smith - http://www.crichparish-ww1.co.uk/ww1webpages/smithhenry.html

[corisande]

Thanks IPT

 

That is a fascinating insight into conciencious objectors treatment in WW1

[ilkley remembers]

Objecting to War, http://archive.ppu.org.uk/nomorewar/a_objecting/index_objecting.html is a long term project by the Peace Pledge Union to highlight the story of conscientious objection in WW1. They have names of about 20000 men who were conscientious objectors and are attempting to record as many of their lives as possible. The stories are fascinating and offer an insight into what remains a fairly poorly researched aspect of the war. One of the more unusual stories concerns William Marshall Wheeldon who was eventually executed during one of Comrade Stalins purges in 1937. He was a member of the famous/infamous/ notorious/brave, depending on your point of view, Wheeldon family of Derby who were alleged to have plotted to poison various members of the British Cabinet including Lloyd George. The story is well covered in Nicola Rippons 2009 book The Plot to Kill Lloyd George and also in Adam Hochschilds To End All Wars which is about protest and patriotism in WW1.

 

I.R.

 

Edit: I think in that this is actually a better link to the PPU's research www.menwhosaidno.org/men/names_intro.html 

Edited 1 April , 2019 by ilkley remembers

[agedpink1]

Thank you everyone this is brilliant!