Description
Object description
British civilian pacifist member of Peace Pledge Union and Anglian Pacifist Fellowship in GB, 1937-1939; conscientious objector in London, GB, 1939-1942; member of Friends' Ambulance Unit in GB, 1942-1944; served as nurse with Friends' Ambulance Unit in Italy and Greece, 1944-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of period as pacifist member of Peace Pledge Union and Anglian Pacifist Fellowship in GB, 1937-1939: early Christian and pacifist attitudes; fellow schoolboys' attitudes; joining Peace Pledge Union and Anglian Pacifist Fellowship; question of countering arguments against pacifism with the example of Christ; attitude towards Christians who supported war; position in church as pacifist; support from Society of Friends in Croydon; relations with Anglian clergy; family's support. Aspects of period as conscientious objector in London, GB, 1939-1942: living insulated lifestyle; discussion of working on railway during wartime.
REEL 2 Continues: nature of first tribunal in London, 1942; question of pressure from tribunal to join armed services or take non-combatant service; nature of appellate tribunal and comparison with first tribunal; opinion of help given by Peace Pledge Union and Society of Friends to prepare for tribunal; tribunals' acceptance of religious conscientious objectors; tribunal's attempt to ascertain his religious views; initial expectations of treatment based on experiences of conscientious objectors during First World War and how that differed during Second World War; acceptance of directed occupation. Recollections of period as conscientious objector with Friends' Ambulance Unit in GB, 1942-1944: reasons for choosing service with Friends' Ambulance Unit; contrast between service with Royal Army Medical Corps and Friends' Ambulance Unit; training at Friends' Ambulance Unit Training Camp at Manor Farm, Northfield, Birmingham, 1942; further training.
REEL 3 Continues: details of catering and medical training including accommodation; relations with other members of unit; relations with service personnel and members of public; how his family was affected by his conscientious objector stance; interest in refugee work. Aspects of period as nurse with Friends' Ambulance Unit in Italy, 1944-1945: move to Italy, 9/1944; work with Yugoslav Partisans in refugee camps in southern Italy; speaking Italian; atmosphere aboard troopship during voyage from GB to Italy, 9/1944; initial uncertainty about role in Italy. Recollections of period with Friends' Ambulance Unit in Greece, 1945: move to Karpathos Island, 1945; duties and attitude towards work in refugee camp.
REEL 4 Continues: improvised religious services; organisation of Friends' Ambulance Unit; administrative relations between Friends' Ambulance Unit and military authorities; refugees' reaction to end of war in Europe, 5/1945; nutrition work on Rhodes Island; attitude of conscientious objectors to continuing post-war conscription; return to GB, 12/1945; desire for reconstruction and reconciliation in Europe; background to becoming hospital administrator in Cairo for Church Missionary Society in 1946; post-war work in Egypt, 1946-1956; question of Christian responsibility to promote understanding between people; benefits of service with Friends' Ambulance Unit.