Refusing to Kill

Usage license

Introduction

Based upon recent research by academic researchers and local historians, this page contains materials made available under a Creative Commons license (CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0) for primary and secondary schools and colleges. They are intended to be relevant to a range of subjects (in particular, history, religious education, citizenship, the humanities more generally and may provide the basis of project work). The material will be added to as the project evolves.

To find out more, for updates or to request a speaker contact Remembering the Real World War 1.

Read more about the Refusing to Kill School Project:

• Show Files
• RTK_Info_DOC_the-resources.pdf
  The resources
• RTK_Info_DOC_the-researchers.pdf
  The researchers
• RTK_Info_DOC_refusing-to-kill-project.pdf
  The ‘Refusing To Kill’ project
• RTK_Info_DOC_about-brhg-rrww1.pdf
  About Bristol Radical History Group and Remembering The Real WW1
• RTK_Info_DOC_history-from-below.pdf
  The history from below approach

World War 1 and Conscientious Objection

These PDFs give context and background information about WW1 war resistance, conscription, conscientious objectors and what happened to them. The content here varies in terms of its complexity but is primarily aimed at teachers planning lessons and projects, and at A level students. We plan to include PDFs which are more directly usable with younger pupils as we develop and add to the Refusing to Kill project.

You may also like to consult the booklet Refusing To Kill – Bristol’s World War 1 Conscientious Objectors on which these pages are largely based.

We welcome feedback in order to help us to improve and add to content.

• Show Files
• RTK_Teaching_DOC_war-resistance.pdf
  War resistance
• RTK_Teaching_DOC_military-service-acts.pdf
  The Military Service Act
• RTK_Teaching_DOC_conscience-clause.pdf
  The Conscience Clause
• RTK_Teaching_DOC_conscientious-objectors.pdf
  The Conscientious Objectors
• RTK_Teaching_DOC_introduction-bristols-ww1-cos.pdf
  An introduction to Bristol’s WW1 COs
• RTK_Teaching_DOC_support-for-cos.pdf
  Support for COs
• RTK_Teaching_DOC_no-conscription-fellowship.pdf
  The No-Conscription Fellowship
• RTK_Teaching_DOC_women-who-ran-co-support-activitie-in-bristol.pdf
  The women who ran CO support services in Bristol
• RTK_Teaching_DOC_society-attitudes-to-cos.pdf
  Society’s attitudes to COs
• RTK_Teaching_DOC_tribunals-judging-conscience.pdf
  Tribunals—judging conscience
• RTK_Teaching_DOC_cos-home-office-scheme.pdf
  COs on the Home Office scheme
• RTK_Teaching_DOC_cos-in-prison.pdf
  COs in prison
• RTK_Teaching_DOC_cos-in-the-military.pdf
  COs in the military
• RTK_Teaching_DOC_cos-post-war.pdf
  COs post war

Bristol COs and Anti-War Campaigners

These PDFs focus on some of the men and women who played a role in Bristol’s WW1 COs story. Where we have found one, they are accompanied by a photo. For some of these individuals more materials linked to the men are available within the primary sources available on this website and links to other sources of information are given. You may also like to consult the booklet Refusing To Kill – Bristol’s World War 1 Conscientious Objectors on which these pages are largely based.

The PDFs give a level of detail more suitable to secondary students, with the links aimed mainly at A level students. We suggest that teachers might edit the material or use an individual’s photo combined with their own storytelling in relation to primary pupils, for example.

We welcome teacher feedback in order to help us to improve and add to content.

• Show Files
• RTK_Teaching_DOC_alfred-James.pdf
  Alfred James
• RTK_Teaching_DOC_annie-chappell.pdf
  Annie Chappell
• RTK_Teaching_DOC_annie-townley.pdf
  Annie Townley
• RTK_Teaching_DOC_elizabeth-hutchinson.pdf
  Elizabeth Hutchinson
• RTK_Teaching_DOC_eric-crompton.pdf
  Eric Crompton
• RTK_Teaching_DOC_frank-merrick.pdf
  Frank Merrick
• RTK_Teaching_DOC_george-barker.pdf
  George Barker
• RTK_Teaching_DOC_gilford-wolland.pdf
  Gilford Wolland
• RTK_Teaching_DOC_mabel-tothill.pdf
  Mabel Tothill
• RTK_Teaching_DOC_paul-sturge.pdf
  Paul Sturge
• RTK_Teaching_DOC_ronald-lovell.pdf
  Ronald Lovell
• RTK_Teaching_DOC_walter-ayles.pdf
  Walter Ayles
• RTK_Teaching_DOC_whiteford-bros.pdf
  The Whiteford Brothers

Bristol COs Names & Addresses

Honorary Research Fellow, School of History, University of Leeds, Cyril Pearce has been studying WW1 COs for decades. Alongside books and articles on the subject, his major contribution to the field is the remarkable Register of British First World War Conscientious Objectors (the Pearce Register). It records the war record of nearly twenty thousand COs to military service, giving a voice to hidden individual stories of the conflict. Few official records of COs survive, so the research involved a wide range of sources, as well as ‘a gathering and matchings of fragments’ of information. The Register is Cyril’s but Remembering the Real WW1 are delighted to have provided small pieces of local research which we hoped helped him along the way.

Here we have provided a snippet of the Register – a list of the COs from the Bristol area whose surnames begin with ‘B’. You can see the full local list in the booklet Refusing To Kill – Bristol’s World War 1 Conscientious Objectors booklet. Which can be purchased here. Note: Discounts on the RRP (£9) are available for teachers and schools.

We can also provide subsets of CO names and addresses for particular geographical areas. Contact us if you would find this useful.

You can read more about the Register’s origins in Huddersfield but for the full up-to-date story, including a chapter on Bristol which was a ‘hotspot’ of conscientious objection, see Communities of Resistance: Mapping dissent in Britain during the First World War (Francis Boutle. Autumn, 2020).

• Show Files
• RTK_Primary_DATA_bristol-co-sample-data.pdf
  Sample data of names, addresses, occupations and age data for Bristol COs

Bedminster War Resistance in World War 1

These links take you to information, a film, maps and history walks. The resources have been developed by Otherstory a local puppet theatre collective that aims to tell through puppetry the stories of outsiders and the powerless. Stories that connect us to each other across place and time. As they say, ‘We want to invite and support others to tell their stories in the recognition that we are all storytellers.’

This is puppetry for all ages and, as you’ll see from their website, Otherstory like to work with the community to develop their ideas, to research and to put on performances. In relation to the Refusing to Kill project things they might be able to offer (online or in person) include:

• An illustrated talk about the Bedminster war resisters
• How we researched it, and how they could do their own research
• A puppet film about war resistance in Bedminster and nationally
• A creative workshop, or resources for an activity, exploring themes from the film

You can contact the puppet people at otherstorypuppetry@ymail.com.

• Show Files
• Steps against War: History walk about Bedminster war resisters in WW1
  A film of Steps Against War, a history walk with puppets and song, telling the stories of Bedminster people who resisted the First World War
• Bedminster War Resisters: Digital map with history walks.
  A map of resistance to World War 1 in Bedminster with two walk routes.
• Trailer for Taking a Holiday – puppet film
  A 30-minute film about war resistance in Bedminster and beyond, told through puppetry and music. Please contact Otherstory about accessing the full film.

Primary Sources – Documents

• Show Files
• RTK_Primary_DOC_a-chidgey-autograph.pdf
  Alfred Chidgey’s autograph in Gilford Wolland’s autograph book
• RTK_Primary_DOC_crompton-letter-1.pdf
  Letter from Eric Crompton, Bristol CO 1/3
• RTK_Primary_DOC_crompton-letter-2.pdf
  Letter from Eric Crompton, Bristol CO 2/3
• RTK_Primary_DOC_crompton-letter-3.pdf
  Letter from Eric Crompton, Bristol CO 3/3
• RTK_Primary_DOC_e-crompton-autograph.pdf
  Eric Crompton’s autograph in Gilford Wolland’s autograph book
• RTK_Primary_DOC_exemption-certificate.pdf
  Ronald Lovell’s exemption certificate
• RTK_Primary_DOC_support-letter.pdf
  Ronald Lovell’s letter of support to tribunal
• RTK_Primary_DOC_nfc-membership-card.pdf
  Ronald Lovell’s No-Conscription Fellowship membership card
• RTK_Primary_DOC_mabel-tothill.pdf
  Mabel Tothill’s election poster
• RTK_Primary_DOC_the-tribunal.pdf
  The Tribunal: Newspaper produced by the No-Conscription Fellowship
• RTK_Primary_DOC_what-every-bristol-man.pdf
  What Every Bristol Man Should Know: Leaflet produced by Joint Advisory Committee for Conscientious Objectors
• RTK_Primary_DOC_co-hansard.pdf
  CO’s Hansard: Weekly publication produced by No-Conscription Fellowship
• RTK_Primary_DOC_military-service-act.pdf
  Military Service Act 1916 poster

Primary Sources – Photographs

• Show Files
• RTK_Primary_PIC_dartmoor.pdf
  Men at the Home Office work camp at Dartmoor
• RTK_Primary_PIC_knutsford.pdf
  A group of COs from Bristol detained at Knutsford
• RTK_Primary_PIC_whiteford-brothers.pdf
  The Whiteford brothers
• RTK_Primary_PIC_alfred-james.pdf
  Alfred James, Bristol CO
• RTK_Primary_PIC_eric-crompton.pdf
  Eric Crompton, Bristol CO
• RTK_Primary_PIC_gilford-wolland.pdf
  Gilford Wolland, Bristol CO
• RTK_Primary_PIC_paul-sturge.pdf
  Paul Sturge, Bristol CO
• RTK_Primary_PIC_walter-bertha-ayles.pdf
  Bristol CO and MP, Walter Ayles and his wife Bertha, activist and organiser within the CO movement
• RTK_Primary_PIC_ayles-plaque.pdf
  The plaque on Walter Ayles’ house
• RTK_Primary_PIC_council-house.pdf
  The Old Council House, Corn Street, Bristol
• RTK_Primary_PIC_horfield-barracks.pdf
  The entrance to Horfield Barracks

Primary Sources – Frank Merrick Documents and Photographs

These documents and photographs all relate to CO Frank Merrick. We are grateful to Frank’s children, Celia Bloor, Frank Merrick and Phoebe Merrick, and University of Bristol Special Collections for allowing us to use them. 

• Show Files
• RTK_Primary_PIC_frank-merrick.pdf
  A photograph of Frank Merrick
• RTK_Primary_PIC_fm-photos.pdf
  More photographs of Frank Merrick
• RTK_Primary_DOC_SC006071.pdf
  Frank Merrick’s call-up notice
• RTK_Primary_DOC_SC006070.pdf
  Frank Merrick’s Army Court Martial Charge Sheet
• RTK_Primary_DOC_SC006072-6073.pdf
  Frank Merrick’s discharge from the army
• RTK_Primary_DOC_SC006488.pdf
  Note from Wormwood Scrubs to Hope Squire (Frank Merrick’s first wife)
• RTK_Primary_DOC_SC006489.pdf
  Prison rules relating to letters and visits
• RTK_Primary_DOC_SC006445.pdf
  Note of Frank Merrick’s transfer from Wormwood Scrubs to Wandsworth Prison
• RTK_Primary_DOC_SC006068.pdf
  First page of prison letter from Frank Merrick to his first wife Hope Squire 1/3
• RTK_Primary_DOC_SC006069.pdf
  First page of prison letter from Frank Merrick to his first wife Hope Squire 2/3
• RTK_Primary_DOC_SC006490-1.pdf
  Prison letter from Frank Merrick to his first wife Hope Squire 3/3
• RTK_Primary_DOC_SC006413-4.pdf
  A letter from Hope Squire (Frank Merrick’s first wife) to Frank in prison 1/6
• RTK_Primary_DOC_SC006417-18.pdf
  A letter from Hope Squire (Frank Merrick’s first wife) to Frank in prison 2/6
• RTK_Primary_DOC_SC006419-20.pdf
  A letter from Hope Squire (Frank Merrick’s first wife) to Frank in prison 3/6
• RTK_Primary_DOC_SC006421-2.pdf
  A letter from Hope Squire (Frank Merrick’s first wife) to Frank in prison 4/6
• RTK_Primary_DOC_SC006423-4.pdf
  A letter from Hope Squire (Frank Merrick’s first wife) to Frank in prison 5/6
• RTK_Primary_DOC_SC006460-1.pdf
  A letter from Hope Squire (Frank Merrick’s first wife) to Frank in prison 6/6 (Armistice Day 1918)
• RTK_Primary_DOC_SC006061.pdf
  Excerpt From Music Composed By Frank Merrick In Prison
• RTK_Primary_DOC_fm-prison.pdf
  Notes on Frank Merrick’s time In prison. As described to his daughter Phoebe and recalled by her in 2007.
• RTK_Primary_DOC_fm_thoughts.pdf
  ‘Thoughts and Facts’ about Frank Merrick Written by Sybil Michelow
• RTK_Primary_PIC_fm-talk.pdf
  A talk about Frank Merrick prepared by his daughter Celia

Sample Lessons and Advice To Teachers

This part of the project is very much under development. We are hoping teachers will send in materials they have used and commentary as to how classes or projects went.

• Show Sample Lessons
• RTK_Lesson_SAMPLE_lesson-1.pdf
  Sample lesson 1
• RTK_Lesson_SAMPLE_lesson-1-evaluation.pdf
  Sample lesson 1 evaluation

• Show Teaching Ideas
• RTK_Lesson_IDEA_law-related-ideas.pdf
  Law related ideas
• RTK_Lesson_IDEA_religious-education-ideas.pdf
  Religous Education ideas

Other Information and Resources

In addition to the information and resources listed below, the Remembering the Real WW1 booklet upon which this website is based includes more information on the local context, including the full list of Bristol-area COs taken from the (Cyril) Pearce Register of British First World War Conscientious Objectors. For more information about the Refusing To Kill – Bristol’s World War 1 Conscientious Objectors booklet see above.

Also, the PDFs on this website contain a wide range of links to materials on this website and elsewhere.
NOTE THAT: The material on this website as well as the information and resources here will be added to over time – so please visit these pages again.

• Show Links
• Online Articles
• Text of a talk about COs (Annual Armistice Day Ypres Peace Lecture 2019 by Professor Lois Bibbings, University of Bristol, Remembering the Real WW1 and Bristol Radical History Group).
• Overview of conscientious objection, war resistance and repression (Professor Lois Bibbings, University of Bristol, Remembering the Real WW1 and Bristol Radical History Group)
• Briefing on WW1 COs and peace activism by peace organisations the Fellowship of Reconciliation, Pax Christi, Peace Pledge Union, Quaker Peace and Social Witness, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.
• Audio Materials
• Listen to WW1 COs tell their own stories in Imperial War Museum recordings (including Bristol-born CO Frank Merrick).
• Films
• Short BBC South Film about WW1 COs and A Secret Prison Newspaper
• Documentary About Women Who Tried To Stop WW1
• Production of WW1 COs play ‘This Evil Thing’ in 6 parts (find out more about the play, its filming and writer performer Michael Mears)
• Websites
• Peace Pledge Union has an education project about WW1 COs – and see their education materials.
• Quakers and WW1
• Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom booklet about WW1 peace activism
• Books about COs
• For an excellent list and review of key sources see Cyril Pearce’s overview from 2015.
• Lois Bibbings, Telling Tales About Men: Conceptions of Conscientious to Military Service During the First World War (by a member of Remembering the Real WW1 and Bristol Radical History Group)
• Cyril Pearce, Comrades in Conscience: The Story of an English Community’s Opposition to the Great War and Communities of Resistance: Mapping dissent in Britain during the First World War (Francis Boutle. Autumn, 2020). (Cyril is creator of the Register of British First World War Conscientious Objectors which this website utilises – the Pearce Register – and has been known to conspire with Remembering the Real WW1 and Bristol Radical History Group).
• Local History Pamphlets About WW1
• Jeremy Clarke, Lois Bibbings, Mary Dobbing, Colin Thomas, Refusing to Kill: Bristol’s WW1 Conscientious Objectors
• Colin Thomas, Slaughter No Remedy: The Life and Times of Walter Ayles, Bristol Conscientious Objector
• Emma Byron and Trevor Houghton, Steps Against War: Resistance to WW1 in Bedminster
• June Hannam, Bristol Independent Labour Party: Men, Women and Opposition to the War
• Local Archives
• Bristol Central Reference Library hold a collection of interesting material relating to conscientious objection in WW1. Some of it is included on this website. To arrange to see this material email refandinfo@bristol.gov.uk
• Bristol Archives also hold extensive WW1 material. You can see their WW1 source guide here.
• The University of Bristol Special Collections hold most of the Frank Merrick documents and photographs included on this website as well as other letters, documents, music and photographs. You can see the lists of their Frank Merrick material in their online catalogue here and contact them by emailing special-collections@bristol.ac.uk
• Other Local Histories of COs
• ‘Watford’s Quiet Heroes’ Film
• Information About Research in Haringey
• Dundee COs
• Recruitment, Conscription, Conscientious Objection and Soldiers in Other Parts of the World
• COs in Canada and Indigenous Canadian Volunteers
• COs in New Zealand, Māori resistance to conscription and conscientious objection.
• The Rejection of Conscription in Australia and Indigenous Australians

How Students Have Used The Refusing To Kill Material

We would be delighted to display examples of students’ work on this website, so if you have essays, displays, pictures, photographs or films made by your school please get in touch.

Bristol Radical History Group Material for Schools is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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