The Battle of Britain

Bing, Harold Frederick (IWM interview)

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Catalogue number
  • 358
Production date
1974-05-06
Subject period
Alternative Names
  • object category: IWM interview
Creator
Category
sound

Object description

British civilian absolutist conscientious objector imprisoned in Kingston Barracks, Wormwood Scrubs and Winchester Prisons, GB, 1916-1919

Content description

REEL 1 Aspects of political and moral beliefs as civilian living in GB, 1914-1916: atmosphere at school in first year of war 1914; Tolstoyan pacifist influence at home; anti-war demonstration 1914; government war propaganda; membership and activities of No Conscription Fellowship. REEL 2 Continues: organisation of No Conscription Fellowship; summary treatment at local military service tribunal hearing; procedure and attitudes of appeal tribunal. Recollections of period as absolutist conscientious objector imprisoned in Kingston Barracks, Wormwood Scrubs and Winchester Prisons, 1916-1919: arrest and conviction. REEL 3 Continues: birthday at Kingston Barracks; Sergeant Templer; tribunals' prejudices; military representatives; central Tribunal and refusal of Home Office Scheme; Non-Combatant Corps experiences. REEL 4 Continues: military law and court martial procedure; guardroom conditions; wearing military uniform; treatment of conscientious objectors at Winchester and Wormwood Scrubs Prisons; conditions of hard labour sentence; prison work; description of cell. REEL 5 Continues: communication with other prisoners; relationship of conscientious objectors with warders; sympathetic warder at Winchester Prison; prison life. REEL 6 Continues: books and reading; improvised writing materials; production of the 'Winchester Whisperer'; smuggled writing supplies; communication between cells; prison doctors; death of prisoner Walter Bone; Martha Steinitz and memorial to conscientious objectors who died. REEL 7 Continues: Clifford Allen's work strike at Winchester Prison; sustainment of Allen's health; strike tactics. Relations between absolutist and alternativist conscientious objectors; activities of conscientious objectors' sympathisers; public hostility. REEL 8 Continues: effect of pacifist position on family; contact with world outside prison. A hanging at Winchester. conscientious objectors' morale; mental attitude and adjustment to prison life. REEL 9 Continues: being aware of date in prison; discharge certificate; complexity of obtaining a toothbrush; memories of Charlotte Despard; printing and distribution of the 'Tribunal'; discharge from prison. REEL 10 Continues: recuperating in Essex. Reflections of conscientious objectors during First World War: post-war discrimination against conscientious objectors; refusal to participate in Second World War local defence or firewatching. REEL 11 Continues: influence of First World War conscientious objectors on Second World War public opinion and official attitudes; attributes for surviving imprisonment; conscientious objectors' influence on prison reform; memories of Eric Chappelow.

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