Solving the Empasse
A bitter cycle of events began; the conscientious objectors found themselves in the army but refused to sign their papers and put on their uniform; they were then charged with disobedience and remanded for Court-martial, a military trial with army officers serving as judge and jury,
The Court-martial would ignore the conscientious objector’s defence that he still regarded himself as a civilian, and award a sentence of imprisonment which could be up to two years, but usually in the first instance a few months. T
he sentence would be served in a civilian prison, such as Winson Green or Wormwood Scrubs, even though the offence was a purely military one. On release, the conscientious objector would be returned to the Army, where a fresh order would be given, refused, and the whole cycle would be repeated, again and again.
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