Prison wall graffiti from soldiers jailed for refusing to fight in WWI to be saved

Art and grafitti drawn on prison cell walls by soldiers who refused to fight in the First World War will be preserved thanks to a new Lottery grant.

The pencil drawings, poems, and hymns were created by a group of concientious objectors who were imprisoned for their views in Richmond Castle, North Yorkshire.

ITV News correspondent Duncan Golestani reports:

The men were locked up for refusing to fight during the First World War, despite conscription being introduced.

Some had objected to doing anything which might contribute to the war effort.

Norman Gaudie was among one group of prisoners known as the Richmond 16. On the wall of his cell today, a drawing of his mother can still be seen.

On another wall, a message to the government: "Is England a free country? Well, let us go. Let the MPs fight it out. Let's be free and look after our wives and children."

Norman's daughter-in-law Marjorie said she was proud to remember how he fought for his beliefs.

At the end of May 1916, the Richmond 16 were taken from their cells ready to be sent to France.

There, they risked being shot if they disobeyed orders - and there were some in the Army determined to make an example of them.

At the last minute, they were saved by then-Prime Minister Herbert Asquith. But they still struggled to find work, ostracised by their communities.

But their graffiti will now be preserved thanks to a grant from English Heritage as a memorial to the beliefs for which they fought.