Mapping courage: new Quaker project sheds light on WWII conscientious objectors
A new Quaker project is uncovering the hidden history of Britons who refused to fight in World War II.
As Remembrance ceremonies honour war dead across the United Kingdom this Sunday, the project highlights the courage of those who chose a different path.
Upward of 65,000 Britons refused to fight in World War II, roughly the same as the number of British and Canadian troops who took part in the D-Day landings.
Now a new database and interactive map of conscientious objectors (COs) aims to ensure that the country remembers that other choices are possible.
Glasgow Quaker Barry Mills spent six years trawling through local newspapers online and on microfiche, unearthing the records of 15,000 COs, including 600 women.
More than 6,500 of these, including Quakers, Jehovah's Witnesses and those of no faith, have been plotted onto an interactive map with names, addresses, religion, and tribunal notes and quotes.
Mills, a member of the Northern Friends Peace Board, began researching COs when he helped Huddersfield historian Cyril Pearce with his ground-breaking database of WWI COs.
He said: “With casualties in both World Wars being so high, there has been an emphasis on listing and commemorating the casualties and recording the stories of those who survived.
“Less is known about those who suffered for refusing to fight, showing courage in a different way from those who fought.
“My research aims to record and find out about conscientious objectors in Britain in World War 2, to honour them and to explore their backgrounds and motivations."
Schools, Quaker meetings and other communities are invited to explore their peace heritage through the the map and database and to contribute further stories.