Description
Object description
British civilian conscientious objector served with Friends' Ambulance Unit in London, GB, 1940-1941; worked at Wennington School, Lonsdale, GB, 1942-1943; electrician and actor with Adelphi Players and Compass Players in GB, 1944-1946
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of period in GB, 1919-1940: family background and childhood in London; development of pacifist beliefs; story about traumatic experience in hospital; daily life in East End of London; memories of seeing blind and disabled First World War veterans begging on streets; listening to pacifist speakers in Barking; education; leaving school and employment with Plessy Ltd; problem of father's unemployment; attitude to treatment of workers during 1930s and effect on decision to become conscientious objector; opinion of Oswald Mosley and level of support for British Union of Fascists in East End.
REEL 2 Continues: effect of First World War on pacifist beliefs; story about uncles' wounding during First World War; theatrical tradition in family; role of science master John Bright and other anti-war influences on pacifist stance; story of damaging man's face during fight; attitude towards war; joining local branch of Peace Pledge Union and nature of activities; incident of being spat on and abused by bus driver; reaction to being shunned by neighbours; background leaving Plessy Ltd; reaction of parents to stance as conscientious objector; attitude to Church's support for war; story of being called 'yellow' by vicar; opinion of Salvation Army; initial contact with Quakers; story of air raid sirens sounding during Quaker meeting on declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; role in setting up Spiceland Training Centre and description of training course, 1939.
REEL 3 Continues: attitude of local population to presence of three German Jewish refugees; relations with local Labour Exchange; attending Tribunal in Bristol, 1939; outcome of Tribunal and benefit of work at Spiceland Training Centre; opinion of treatment by police and judiciary; attitude to treatment of conscientious objector Arthur Hall; question of connection between social class and conscientious objectors. Recollections of period as volunteer with Friends' Ambulance Unit in GB, 1940-1944: joining Friends' Ambulance Unit in London, 1940; opinion of Friends' Ambulance Unit; work as nursing orderly in military section of Winford Hospital, Winford near Bristol, 1941; attitude to treating military patients; relations between soldiers and conscientious objectors; treating victims of German Air Force bombing of Bristol.
REEL 4 Continues: work as odd job man after leaving Friends' Ambulance Unit at Wennington School, Lonsdale, 1942-1943; training with Friends' Ambulance Unit in hospitals in London, 1940-1941; attitude to involvement with Friends' Ambulance Unit; description of work at Bethnal Green Hospital; opinion of accommodation at London Hospital; further details of work at Winford Hospital; attitude to quasi-military aspects of Friends' Ambulance Unit and social hierarchy; leaving Friends' Ambulance Unit, 1941; attitude to treatment of working class pacifists; further details of involvement with Peace Pledge Union and Oswald Mosely's activities in East End.
REEL 5 Continues: prior recollection of reaction to Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939. Recollections of period as conscientious objector in GB, 1944-1946: work as electrician, actor and driver with the Adelphi Players and the Compass Players; giving performance of play 'The Sulky Fire' to air crew prior to the bombing of Dresden, Germany, 2/1945; reason for not joining Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA); story about meeting General William Slim and rejection of invitation to perform in Greece; financial situation; description of performances in schools and at military camps; opinion of Compass Players and importance of audience participation.
REEL 6 Continues: acting role with Compass Players; reason for leaving Compass Players; question of censorship; attitude of colleagues in theatres and hospitals to stance as conscientious objector; opinion of value of war work; reason for undertaking voluntary work; role of King George V in better treatment of conscientious objectors; reaction to news of German concentration camps and question of double standards over Allied war crimes. Aspects of period as civilian in GB, 1946-1991: reasons for continuing to be a pacifist; effect of conscientious objector stance on career; story of being criticised for choosing hymn using tune of German national anthem for school assembly; attitude towards Europe; comparison of riots and wars; reason for young being more enthusiastic for war.
REEL 7 Continues: attitude to role of United Nations in Gulf War, 1991; opinion of American military leadership and support for Saddam Hussein; opinion of League of Nations during 1930s; attitude to violence; story about swindler operating in Bristol.