100 years on: rare letters reveal the untold story of the conscientious objectors

1916 saw the world at the height of war. Millions of young men were in the trenches - and their letters and poems help tell the story of the conflict.

But theirs is not the only story - on March 2 1916 parliament passed an act which introduced conscription into the UK. Some people protested, but it was signed into law, and not going to war became a privilege, not a right.

More than two million British men were drafted into the army through conscription, but one man from Bristol was among those who refused - William Gould voluntarily went to prison rather than going to France support the war.

Now, his son has decided to share his story:

Peter's father sent a series of letters to his own mother while in prison for refusing the call-up.

Peter Gould has a collection of his father's letters written between 1916 and 1918 Credit: Peter Gould

Letters William wrote while at Horfield Prison show his anxiety that the poor were getting taken advantage of:

William was worried about poverty and food shortages facing the working classes. Credit: Peter Gould

The conscientious objectors were not a unified group - people had many different reasons for not wanting to support the war including on political, religious and socialist grounds.

Within these communities they could be a support to each other - but many of the so-called "conchies" were also subject to a lot of public criticism and scorn.

It's a worry that's picked up on in William's letters - where he asks his mother what a friend called Bill makes of "us conscientious objectors"

William's letters show the kind of social isolation some of the COs were facing. Credit: ITV News

It was a stigma that sometimes found its way into the system itself.

Men who felt they had a conscientious objection to serving in the military would apply to a tribunal for an exemption. A panel would assess whether the applicant had a genuinely held opinion - and they have a mixed reputation in terms of the level of justice or injustice they actually provided.

Peter says his father's letters make him feel very proud. Credit: ITV News

It was this panel of worthies who would decide whether the man applying was doing so on the basis of conscience or cowardice.

William chose prison rather than a non-combatant role in the army, voluntarily taking on the back breaking hard labour and difficult living conditions. Many objectors were denied visitors, books, and even enough to eat.

Peter says he "can only be proud" of the father who paid such a high price for doing what he believed was right.

A commemorative stone in London marks the legacy of men like William Gould. By World War Two the number of people applying for exemption as a CO had almost doubled, and they were treated much more kindly.

The conscientious objectors stood up for their right not to kill. It was their own battle, hard fought and won.

'To all those who have established and are maintaining the right to refuse to kill. Their foresight and courage give us hope Credit: ITV News

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