The Era Of The Great War #9: Conscription & Conscientious Objectors

Question 1

When was conscription introduced?

Answer 1

January 1916

Question 2

Who was conscription introduced for in January 1916?

Answer 2

18-41 year old single men

Question 3

What did conscription do in 1916?

Answer 3

It meant that the government could call men to fight OR do any other job they wanted

Question 4

What did conscription do in 1916?

Answer 4

It meant that the government could call men to fight OR do any other job they wanted

Question 5

Timeline of conscription

Answer 5

Mid 1915: volunteer numbers falling. National Registration Act created.
Jan 1916: Conscription. Single Men 18-41.
May 1916: A second act extended it to married men
1918: Final months of war, age raised to 51
1920: Conscription extended to deal with continuing trouble spots in Empire and parts of Europe

Question 6

What was the National Registration Act?

Answer 6

A list of all the men fit for military service who were still available

Question 7

When was conscription extended to married men?

Answer 7

May 1916

Question 8

How many men were conscripted altogether ?

Answer 8

2.3 million

Question 9

4 exceptions to conscription

Answer 9

1. Medically unfit
2. Reserved occupations (vital for war effort)
3. Conscientious Objectors (moral/religious)
4. Adversely financially impacted

Question 10

What were reserved occupations exempt to conscription?

Answer 10

Teachers, fishermen, coal miners, priests

Question 11

What did the Military Conscription Act state on conscientious objectors?

Answer 11

It allowed it! And also made it a thing!

Question 12

Moral Conscientious Objectors

Answer 12

Wrong to kill (pacifists)

Question 13

Religious Conscientious Objectors

Answer 13

Taking life went against religion (usually quakers)

Question 14

Political Conscientious Objectors

Answer 14

War was political and pitted working class against each other to benefit the rich (socialist)

Question 15

How many conchies?

Answer 15

Overall 16000

Question 16

What did the Foreign War Minister say about Conscription?

Answer 16

“Conscription was foreign”

Question 17

After 2 years, the death toll

Answer 17

Increased

Question 18

Absolutists

Answer 18

Refused to help at war at ALL

Question 19

Alternativists

Answer 19

Contribute, not fight

Question 20

What jobs could alternativists do?

Answer 20

Stretcher bearers, medics, orderlies

Question 21

What was the FAU (Friends Ambulance Unit)?

Answer 21

An ambulance unit made specifically for alternativists

Question 22

How many men in FAU

Answer 22

1000

Question 23

Who was Cedric Vipont Brown, a Quaker

Answer 23

worked at the front unarmed and unpaid in the FAU

Question 24

Story of Cedric’s brother, Ralph Vipont Brown

Answer 24

• joined the Friends war relief which was Quaker run after refusing the FAU
• helped at maternity hospital in shalom France
• died of influenza
• buried in Calle France with 15000 soldiers

Question 25

Story of Cedric’s brother, Ralph Vipont Brown

Answer 25

- joined the Friends war relief which was Quaker run after refusing the FAU - helped at maternity hospital in shalom France - died of influenza - buried in Calle France with 15000 soldiers

Question 26

What was the Quaker Run Friends War Relief Comittee?

Answer 26

A unit which only helped civilians as they believed it wrong to send men back to war

Question 27

What happened if you applied to be a conscientious objector?

Answer 27

Had to be judged by tribunal where they would decide

Question 28

What would the judges in the tribunal ask the people applying to be conchies, in hope that they would change their mind?

Answer 28

“What would you do if a German soldier attacked your mother?” (Save her or let her die)

Question 29

What was the Non Combatant Corps nicknamed?

Answer 29

The non courage corps

Question 30

Bert Brocklesbee’s story

Answer 30

- he was an absolutist - he believed that “God did not put me on earth to go destroying his own children” - popular at church in until he preached against war and soldiers - his family received a white feather yet still stood by him - Bert’s sentiment was also of individualism - he wouldn’t work in non combatant corps so he was arrested - held in a castle with the most adamant objectors - he drew his girlfriend and christ under a cross on the wall

Question 31

What was the conscientious objectors song called?

Answer 31

Conscientious Objectors lament