Description
Object description
British civilian pacifist and conscientious objector in London, GB, 1939-1945 including imprisonment in Holloway Prison, London, GB, 1/1943
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of background in London, GB, 1913-1939: family background in Walthamstow; presence of large number of fatherless children after First World War; reaction to death of two uncles in the First World War; father's service in the First World War; activities with Methodist Sunday School and Brotherhood Movement; school teacher's influencing development of pacifist beliefs; incident of neighbour wearing white poppy on Armistice Day; attitude of parents to pacifist beliefs; opinion of Methodist Church's attitude to war; reason for development of pacifist beliefs; description of employment with musical instrument firm; awareness of political situation during the 1930s.
REEL 2 Continues: Aspect of period as pacifist in London, GB, 9/1939-1/1943: initial contact with anti-war movement through Edward Redhead's anti-conscription group; reason for joining local branch of the Peace Pledge Union; activities with Peace Pledge Union; selling 'Peace News' and distributing leaflets to potential conscripts; opinion of Dick Sheppard; attitude of military to anti-conscription campaign; role of women in the Peace Pledge Union; relations with the police and public; description of work with Advisory Bureau for Conscription; later story about Jehovah's Witness in Holloway Prison; comparison of varying beliefs among conscientious objectors; attitude of Tribunals to valid grounds for exemption; opinion of trade union members on Tribunal boards; description of mock tribunals; role in advising conscientious objectors at Tribunals; opinion of composer Michael Tippett.
REEL 3 Continues: further comments on the Peace Pledge Union and 'Peace News'; opinion of Vera Brittain and other high profile members of the anti-war movement; description of anti-war meetings; problem of splits in anti-war movement after the war; further details of work advising conscientious objectors at Tribunals; relations with the Quakers; question of scarcity of Roman Catholic priests at Tribunals.
REEL 4 Continues: Appeal Tribunals process and Alternative Service; reason for certain occupations being renamed; role as advisor at police courts in Tottenham; relations with prison warders and prisoners; amusing story about criminal; importance of maintaining good relations with the police; description of procedure in conscientious objector cases; sentences; attitude of magistrates to conscientious objectors; story of former First World War conscientious objectors refusing to be directed into fire-watching; attitude to treatment of female conscientious objectors; arrest and court appearance; attitude of judge; reaction to sentence of fourteen days imprisonment. Aspects of period as inmate in Holloway Prison, London, GB, 1/1943: journey to prison; reception procedure on arrival; clothing; opinion of sanitary facilities; description of cell; relations with other prisoners; amusing story about trouser legs; daily routine and duties; opinion of food and library facilities.
REEL 5 Continues: different bibles being given out to various religious denominations; opinion of prison chaplain; role of the Prison Aid Society; links with Quakers in prison; opinion of Kathleen Lonsdale; story about ration book; further details of prison food and living conditions; writing poems about prison life; work at air raid shelters; assessment of psychological state whilst in prison and importance of family support; communication with other prisoners; opinion of medical and sanitary facilities; memories of other prisoners; story of helping prison warder control panic after air raid.
REEL 6 Continues: Aspects of period as pacifist in London, GB, 1/1943-8/1945: role in formation of the Old Lags Association; opinion of Fenner Brockway; story about post-war reunion of the Old Lags Association and British Broadcasting Corporation television programme 'Nationwide'; comparison of conscientious objectors in the First and Second World Wars; attitude to prevention of war; question of never having met a Conservative conscientious objector; work with Central Board for Conscientious Objectors following release from Holloway Prison, 1/1943; opinion of Dennis Hayes and Joe Brayshaw; husband's stance as conscientious objector; further comments on 'Peace News' and reads poem 'Selling Peace News'; further details of work at air raid shelters; financial situation; continuing employment at musical instrument firm after partial conversion to war work.
REEL 7 Continues: Reflections on period as pacifist and consciencious objector, 1939-1945: story of post-war reunion with work colleagues from musical instrument firm; attitude of public and press to conscientious objectors during Second World War; opinion of treatment of conscientious objectors; attitude to Labour Party ministers running directed labour scheme; refusal to work in greengrocery; effect of war on prison sentences; attitude to progress of war and Allied victories; attitude towards patriotism; further comment on treatment of conscientious objectors during and after Second World War; comparison of celebrations at end of First and Second World War; reason for Adolf Hitler's rise to power in Germany; opinion of Margaret Thatcher and Enoch Powell; work on disarmament with Ron Mallone.
