The Men who became Conscientious Objectors
The men came from all over the UK, and from all walks of life, including several graduates, school teachers, civil servants and clerks etc. About 50% were craftsmen and manual workers. The majority belonged to religious sects, mostly Quakers, International Bible Students but some were members of the ILP Independent Labour Party,
One was a concert pianist and one who arrived in early 1917 was an ex-army officer who had been on active military service in France from the outbreak of war. He refused to go on active service to Russia in 1917 with his battalion and become a conscientious objector.
Many of the Conscientious Objectors came from England, particularly from Yorkshire and Lancashire. Accommodation was provided in wooden huts at the foot of Mynydd Du, and some Conscientious Objectors where billeted in local farms including Blaensawdde (PRN 7119).
A personal insight into the lives of the men at the camp is gained through some of the entries found in autograph books belonging to two of the conscientious objectors; John Taylor from Leicester and Peter Davies whose archive also includes photographs and other documents.
The entries provide an insight into the motivations of the objectors and also demonstrates a sense of comradeship amongst them;
Those with artistic talents provided illustrations, and cartoons
Many entries provide an insight into the motivations for taking their stand against the overwhelming views of the majority – they clearly were fighting their own religious or moral battles with the military or the establishment. A great sense of brotherhood
Many give voice to their political views, which was overwhelmingly left wing – members of the International Labour Party . The heart of their idea was that of international working class solidarity – of ‘brotherhood’ .
Theirs was the belief that wars were engineered out of capitalist profit-making greed, and that if only workers of all countries would refuse to fight, war would become impossible often many had views which intersected all of these beliefs.
Those with strong religious beliefs include many Quakers and International Bible Students who would walk miles to their nearest congregation at Clydach or attended bible meetings at Crugybar , some 15 miles from the camp.
