Description
Object description
British civilian pacifist advisor with Central Board for Conscientious Objectors and Friends' Peace Committee in GB, 1939-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB, 1900-1934: military character of childhood; memories of declaration of First World War, 4/8/1914; desire to avenge brother's death in First World War; father's work for War Office; mother's reaction to loss of son in First World War; attitude towards war; war service as boy scout; expectation of call-up and reaction to end of First World War, 11/11/1918; anticipation of death in military service, 1918; reticence of ex-service undergraduates to discuss war at University of Oxford, 1919. Recollections of period as member of Fellowship of Reconciliation in GB, 1934-1939: early encounter with pacifism through 'Beaks and Dons' organisation; influence of Charles Raven; joining Fellowship of Reconciliation in London, 1934; setting up alternative organisation to Officer Training Corps for pupils; dismissal of pacifist teachers and how he resigned his as housemaster in sympathy, 1939.
REEL 2 Continues: activities of 'Beaks and Dons' organisation; attending Fellowship of Reconciliation conference in Durham; background to joining Society of Friends, 1939; signing Peace Pledge; opinion of Dick Sheppard; work of Historic Peace Churches; treatment of pacifists in post-war East and West Germany and advice given by Friends Peace Committee. Recollections of period as pacifist advisor with Central Board for Conscientious Objectors and Friends' Peace Committee in GB, 1939-1945: religious basis of pacifism; registering as conscientious objector although past call up age; work with training centre for German and Austrian refugees, 1939-1940.
REEL 3 Continues: activities of and relations with refugees; role as local advisor with Central Board of Conscientious Objectors; advising own pupils; stories illustrating fairness of conscientious objector tribunals; his advisory role; tribunal attitude towards Quakers; strictness of tribunals towards political conscientious objectors; question of insincere conscientious objectors and disadvantaged cases; degree of help in preparation of statements; composition of tribunal board; conscientious objectors families; psychological state of conscientious objectors at tribunal; mother's attitude towards his pacifist stance; question of potential call up for military service.
REEL 4 Continues: belief in fairness of tribunals; role of religious expert at tribunal; comparison of treatment of conscientious objectors during First and Second World Wars; wartime work with Friends' Peace Committee; reasons for decline in Peace Pledge Union membership during Second World War; role of War Resisters' International; question of pacifism and social class; attitude towards Allied bombing; sacrifices made by conscientious objector during Second World War; reasons for resigning housemastership; fire watching duties; views on war, use of force and corporal punishment; question of German awareness in atrocities; optimism for peace.