For a coward and a liar... Rot in Hell, the white feather given to pacifist Thomas Andrews, right
A small white feather was the symbol of cowardice in World War One.
The white feather campaign started in Folkestone, Kent, where 30 women were galvanized into shaming any man without a uniform found 'loafing' on the Leas.
These women were not too choosy about who they picked on - some men were home on leave, others were recovering from war wounds - but the shame lead some to suicide.
During WWI there were 16,000 conscientious objectors (CO) in the UK and they had many different motives for their objections. Some were religious, belonging to non-conformist churches, others were political and often members of a left-wing political party.
Each shared the belief that taking up arms was something they simply could not do.
At Whitgift School’s new exhibition Remembering 1916 – Life on the Western Front, in South Croydon, of all the 500 or so artefacts, it was a white chicken’s feather, poked into a small card marked For a coward and a liar...Rot in hell’ that stopped me in my tracks.
I have written about WWI and the COs' fight against fighting for many years but I had never seen an original feather and the message card.
I suppose I had never imagined any one of the men would keep the symbol of shame, foisted upon them by Admiral Charles Penrose Fitzgerald’s team of women who pounced on any 'young slacker’ not in uniform.
This particular white feather was given to a Quaker, Thomas Andrews, but why did he keep it?
Why didn’t he throw it away or burn it?
COs split into two camps, the Alternativists and the Absolutists.
The Alternativists spent the whole war carrying out work of national importance on the Home Front, usually farming or working in market gardens.
Others joined the army in a non-combatant role, either working in labour and logistic supply, the Royal Army Medical Corps or Friends Ambulance Unit as stretcher-bearers and ambulance drivers. They believed it was acceptable to work in some capacity, even if it aided the military, as long as they personally did not take life.
The Absolutists found themselves unable to do this and refused national service, believing alternative work would free up another man to fight and kill.
All of this came about after the initial enthusiasm of volunteers signing up in 1914 dried up; in a war of attrition, the British government realised the growing number of casualties from the front would need to be replaced.
Conscription came with the Military Service Act of 1916 which stated all men aged 18-41 must sign up. This was a controversial decision, especially for those who had strong anti-war principles.
The tribunal system to hear applications for exemption by those who did not want to be enlisted was organised and chaired by the local parish leaders, from religious ministers to aldermen, councillors and mayors.
COs found the tribunals harsh, with little effort made to understand their moral and ethical position. The chairmen had the power to grant an Absolute exemption, but it was rarely used - a CO would more often be sent to the army regardless of his beliefs.
The Home Office did not seem to know what to do with members of the Pacifist movement and more than 6,000 of the COs went on a difficult journey from arrest to court martial, work camp or prison, hard labour and for some – torture, neglect and death.
I will try to find out what happened to Thomas Andrews.
The white feather campaign started in Folkestone, Kent, where 30 women were galvanized into shaming any man without a uniform found 'loafing' on the Leas.
These women were not too choosy about who they picked on - some men were home on leave, others were recovering from war wounds - but the shame lead some to suicide.
During WWI there were 16,000 conscientious objectors (CO) in the UK and they had many different motives for their objections. Some were religious, belonging to non-conformist churches, others were political and often members of a left-wing political party.
Each shared the belief that taking up arms was something they simply could not do.
At Whitgift School’s new exhibition Remembering 1916 – Life on the Western Front, in South Croydon, of all the 500 or so artefacts, it was a white chicken’s feather, poked into a small card marked For a coward and a liar...Rot in hell’ that stopped me in my tracks.
I have written about WWI and the COs' fight against fighting for many years but I had never seen an original feather and the message card.
I suppose I had never imagined any one of the men would keep the symbol of shame, foisted upon them by Admiral Charles Penrose Fitzgerald’s team of women who pounced on any 'young slacker’ not in uniform.
This particular white feather was given to a Quaker, Thomas Andrews, but why did he keep it?
Why didn’t he throw it away or burn it?
COs split into two camps, the Alternativists and the Absolutists.
The Alternativists spent the whole war carrying out work of national importance on the Home Front, usually farming or working in market gardens.
Others joined the army in a non-combatant role, either working in labour and logistic supply, the Royal Army Medical Corps or Friends Ambulance Unit as stretcher-bearers and ambulance drivers. They believed it was acceptable to work in some capacity, even if it aided the military, as long as they personally did not take life.
The Absolutists found themselves unable to do this and refused national service, believing alternative work would free up another man to fight and kill.
All of this came about after the initial enthusiasm of volunteers signing up in 1914 dried up; in a war of attrition, the British government realised the growing number of casualties from the front would need to be replaced.
Conscription came with the Military Service Act of 1916 which stated all men aged 18-41 must sign up. This was a controversial decision, especially for those who had strong anti-war principles.
The tribunal system to hear applications for exemption by those who did not want to be enlisted was organised and chaired by the local parish leaders, from religious ministers to aldermen, councillors and mayors.
COs found the tribunals harsh, with little effort made to understand their moral and ethical position. The chairmen had the power to grant an Absolute exemption, but it was rarely used - a CO would more often be sent to the army regardless of his beliefs.
The Home Office did not seem to know what to do with members of the Pacifist movement and more than 6,000 of the COs went on a difficult journey from arrest to court martial, work camp or prison, hard labour and for some – torture, neglect and death.
I will try to find out what happened to Thomas Andrews.
- Remembering 1916 - Life on the Western Front is an extraordinary exhibition that rivals any private museum. The independent boys' school in South Croydon has punched well above its weight to tell a thought-provoking and balanced story; not only remembering the 251 pupils who lost their lives, but it is a salute to every soldier and citizen across the globe who made the final sacrifice in the war to end all wars.
- Remembering 1916 – Life on the Western runs until August 31.
- Details at www.remembering1916.com
RSS Feed
