Description
Object description
British civilian pacifist schoolchild and student teacher in Croydon, GB, 1914-1918
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of period as pacifist schoolchild and student teacher in Croydon, GB, 1914-1918: attitude of relatives towards her pacifist family; attitude towards First World War at school; brother Harold Bing's decision to become conscientious objector; dismissal from role as student teacher for refusal to collect war savings.
REEL 2 Continues: reaction to declaration of First World War, 8/1914; war propaganda; effect of food rationing on vegetarians; visits to conscientious objectors in military guardroom at Winchester; singing carols outside Wormwood Scrubs Prison; wartime financial constraints on family.
REEL 3 Continues: question of mother working; activities with Croydon Branch of No Conscription Fellowship; nature of meetings; character of members of No Conscription Fellowship; contact with conscientious objectors; pre-war work of Croydon Social Union; mother's interest in women's' suffrage.
REEL 4 Continues: German Zeppelin raids; leaving Congregational Church because of its stance on war; mother's acceptance of brother Harold Bing's pacifist position and conscientious objection.
REEL 5 Continues: reaction to brother Harold Bing's decision to become conscientious objector; refusal to collect war savings during teacher training; question of indoctrination at primary school; reaction to church's attitude towards First World War; treatment of conscientious objectors in First and Second World Wars; father's attitude towards brother's conscientious objection.
REEL 6 Continues: prison visiting regulations; effects of imprisonment on Harold Bing; illicit communication with prisoners; problems of food rationing for vegetarians; varied nature of membership of Croydon Branch of No Conscription Fellowship; activities with No Conscription Fellowship.
REEL 7 Continues: reluctance of conscientious objectors to discussion prison experience; her religious beliefs; procedure of Winchester court martial; Harold Bing's prison sentences; basis of Harold Bing's absolutist conscientious objection position.
REEL 8 Continues: mother's loyalty towards brother; holidays; threat of father being called up for military service; how family managed financially during First World War; visit to farm run by Reginald Sorenson after First World War; distribution of the 'Tribunal'.
REEL 9 Continues: post-war adoption of Hungarian girl refugee; changes in life after First and Second World Wars; childhood memories.