By 1916, the army needed more fighting men. Casualties were high, and there were fewer volunteers. In May 1916, the British government passed the Military Service Act, introducing conscription for the first time. It made military service compulsory for millions of men across Britain, but also included a ‘conscience clause’, allowing men to object on moral, religious or political grounds. Religious groups such as Quakers and Jehovah’s Witnesses refused to fight, as taking human lives was against their faith. Political groups, such as Socialists, refused to fight in what they saw as a rich man’s war. Often seen as cowards, conscientious objectors faced local tribunals, where most were refused exemption. Some accepted non-combat work in the Royal Army Medical Corps, while many others faced punishment like prison or work camps. Of the 16,000 conscientious objectors in Britain during the First World War, more than one-third went to prison at least once, and 73 of these men died due to harsh conditions and brutal treatment.
Description
Some men refused to fight in WW1 due to ethics. They were known as conscientious objectors These men faced discrimination in society and many were imprisoned.
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