Description
Object description
British civilian conscientious objector in GB, 1939-1941; signalman and NCO served with Royal Corps of Signals in GB and North West Europe, 1942-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Ilkeston, GB, 1919-1934: family; education. Recollections of period as conscientious objector in GB, 1934-1941: development of his political opinions and religious beliefs; his attitude towards war during 1930s; joining Peace Pledge Union; attitude towards Nazi regime.
REEL 2 Continues: encounter with First World War veteran in shop; contact with First World War conscientious objector; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; reaction to arrival of call-up papers; anti-war work and public reaction to it prior to outbreak of war, summer 1939; attending conscientious objector tribunal, autumn, 1939; his opinion of pacifists; decision of his conscientious objector tribunal; starting work on pacifist farming commune near Andover; impact of Dunkirk Evacuation on his opinions.
REEL 3 Continues: nature of farming work; defections from conscientious objector ranks; impact of German attack on Soviet Union, 6/1941; change in his attitude towards Soviet Union; problem of total war and communitarian philosophy; joining Communist Party of Great Britain; work of Barrow Branch of Communist Party of Great Britain; opinion of his party comrades.
REEL 4 Continues: Recollections of period as signalman and NCO with Royal Corps of Signals in GB and North West Europe, 1942-1945: background to enlistment; other conscientious objectors met during training; allocation to signals work; volunteering for pilot training; question of attitude towards Second Front; official observation of Communists in army; nature of troops' opinions; giving lectures for Army Bureau of Current Affairs; unpopularity of Prime Winston Churchill in British Army; aspirations of servicemen regarding post-war Britain.
REEL 5 Continues: reaction to service in North West Europe; impressions of destruction witnessed in Germany; reaction to news of dropping of atomic bombs on Japan, 8/1945. Comparison between anti-war movement before and after Second World War.