Harland, Richard Stuart (Oral history)

British civilian pacifist and conscientious objector in Oxford and London, 1939-1945; refugee relief worker for Salvation Army at Friedland and Siegen, Germany, 1946-1947; peace activist and anti-nuclear protestor in GB, 1947-1992.

REEL 1:Aspects of period in GB, 1920-1939: family background in Scarborough, Yorkshire; religious upbringing and beliefs; opinion of Quakers; story of Rowntree family supporting Boers during South African War, 1899-1902; description of Armistice Day services following First World War; opinion of education at Bootham School York; story about Corder Catchpool; description of activities with miners in Work Camp movement; opinion of Jack Hoyland and Neave Brayshaw; reaction to Spanish Civil War; attitude to Peace Pledge Union; reaction to Munich Crisis and outbreak of Second World War; story of visit to League of Nations in Geneva, 1938. Aspects of period in Oxford, GB, 1939-1942: reason for registering as conscientious objector; story about brother's tribunal in Newcastle; story of going up to Queen's College Oxford, 9/1939; description of tribunal in Oxford and accepting decision to join Non-Combatant Corps; reaction to failing medical examination; description of daily life in Oxford and continuing involvement with Work Camp Movement; attitude to doing war work. REEL 2 Continues: story of completing law degree at Oxford, 1942; story of teaching schoolboys to drive tractor in York, 1941; description of farm work during holidays; story of leaving Oxford and going into articles with Town Clerk in Hampstead, London, 1942. Aspects of period in London, 1942-1945: description of daily life in London including air raids, firewatching duties and V1 and V2 raids; description of work including giving free legal advice at the Mary Ward Settlement, as lawyer for poor in Notting Hill, at the Hungerford Club and shelter work in Islington; story of involvement with Save Europe Now organisation. Aspects of period in Germany, 1946-1947 story of undertaking German relief work with Salvation Army, 2/1946; opinion of Salvation Army; description of work at Friedland refugee camp, 1946; opinion of work of International Voluntary Service for Peace; description of conditions in displaced persons camps; description of work and conditions at camp for homeless in Siegen; relations with German civilians; role in regenerating local welfare organisations; attitude to current refugee crisis in Yugoslavia (1992); further comments on Salvation Army. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period in GB, 1946-1992: story of meeting Germans from Siegen in Yorkshire; awareness of growing anti-nuclear movement while in Chelmsford, 1950s; description of activities with local CND including Aldermaston marches; story of resigning from Lincolnshire County Council after refusing to co-operate with Civil Defence organisation; story of pamphlet produced by Bradford Peace Studies Department about possible effects of nuclear strike on Leeds; relations between local CND branch and head office; description of taking part in second Aldermaston march; opinion of C100 group; story of decrease in anti-nuclear activities and move to Yorkshire in 1960s; attitude to Fylingdales Early Warning System; role in protests against Menwith Hill Early Warning System; story of forming peace group in Grassington after showing of film 'The War Game', 1981; reason for non-affiliation with CND; role in charge of membership, subscriptions and mailing lists; story of involvement with anti-cruise missile camp at Molesworth. REEL 4 Continues: description of camp at Molesworth and protest activities; problem with young protestors at camp; story about allegations of rape at camp; story of women from Greenham Common invading Molesworth camp and cutting down cross; story of inviting Greenham Common women to public meetings in Grassington; problem of disseminating anti-nuclear information; reaction of locals in Grassington to peace protestors; story about wife's involvement with Mothers for Peace organisation including visit to Bulgaria, 1981-1982; description of visitors to home from Eastern Europe and Soviet Union; opinion of peace movement's contribution to ending Cold War; reflections on future prospects for world peace.