Conscientious Objectors and yes Ali is an example although I would have said the late great Oliver Postage.
Certain people who were called up objected to fighting in both world wars on the grounds of their religious and/or political views. Many wereQuakers etc who were pacifists and they often served bravely in medical teams or as ambulance drivers.
Others thought the war was wrong and refused to wear uniform and went to jail.
My dad (who was a volunteer) served with COs in mine clearing and always had a lot of respect for them. They had to put up with a lot of grief for standing on their principals. My dad said he fought the war so other people like them had the right not to.
The Military Service Act of 27 January 1916 ensured that every British male subject who on 15 August 1915 was ordinarily resident in Great Britain and who had attained the age of 19 but was not yet 41 was conscripted.
That of course includes Ireland at the time.
I told you he was good. Still a fat bastard with no taste in music : - )
Although a comedy 'Dad's Army' went serious on one occasion when aged Pte. Godfrey was discovered to have been a CO in WW1. Mainwaring wanted him slung out of the platoon immediately for being a coward until it was found he had been decorated for stretcher bearing under fire. It typified the way people thought of COs without knowing the facts.
Although a comedy 'Dad's Army' went serious on one occasion when aged Pte. Godfrey was discovered to have been a CO in WW1. Mainwaring wanted him slung out of the platoon immediately for being a coward until it was found he had been decorated for stretcher bearing under fire. It typified the way people thought of COs without knowing the facts.
Well remembered. I think the actor who played him actually fought in the first war and was wounded on the Western Front. Can't remember his name so can't look it up.
Arnold Ridley, served in The Somerset Light Infantry and was severely wounded on the First day of The Somme.He sustained several serious injuries: his left arm was left virtually useless and his legs were riddled with shrapnel - he also had his skull fractured by a blow to the head by a German soldier's rifle butt which left him prone to blackouts
The British Army began awarding a brass "Wound Stripe" in 1916, with approval by King George V. The badge was worn on the left forearm, fastened through the uniform cloth. Additional badges were granted for subsequent wounds.
Addicted, Mrs.M's grandfather was wounded and taken prisoner in 1915 (a Lancashire regiment,the Fusileers, perhaps). Not his lucky day, except he survived, so would he have been eligible for a stripe on his return to Blighty?
Arnold Ridley, served in The Somerset Light Infantry and was severely wounded on the First day of The Somme.He sustained several serious injuries: his left arm was left virtually useless and his legs were riddled with shrapnel - he also had his skull fractured by a blow to the head by a German soldier's rifle butt which left him prone to blackouts
Addicted, Mrs.M's grandfather was wounded and taken prisoner in 1915 (a Lancashire regiment,the Fusileers, perhaps). Not his lucky day, except he survived, so would he have been eligible for a stripe on his return to Blighty?
He would have been most likely de mobbed on his return following on from the Armistace and would therefore not have got a wound stripe even though he had 'earned' it.
Thanks for that mate. I'll try and find out, though I think it was somewhere on the Western Front.Mrs M had some stuff handed down that might give a clue.
The Military Service Act of 27 January 1916 ensured that every British male subject who on 15 August 1915 was ordinarily resident in Great Britain and who had attained the age of 19 but was not yet 41 was conscripted.
That of course includes Ireland at the time.
Thanks for this. I still dont understand why there was a move late in the war for conscription in Ireland, if as you say there was already conscription.I was almost certain there was no conscription in Ireland and having referenced that paragon of correctness this morning, Wiki, it seems to confirm this. It just doesnt make sense - am I missing something here?
I thought that "Thomas" was injured fairly early in the war, if the wound stripe was not introduced until 1916, would he have recieved it retrospectively Addickted?
Addickted, who is a WWI scholar of some renown despite being a fat ugly bastard, says that British people (which at that time included people born in what is now Eire) living in mainland Britian were subject to conscription. So I go with him.
I think you overlooked the fact that Eire didn't exist in 1914 or 1918 and the island of Ireland was part of the British state.
Having done three tours there, I was fairly au fait with the politics. Although it didnt exist in name, there was a Home Rule/IPP party pushing for independence and passing separate acts for Ireland for many years whilst sitting at Westminster. It was both sides (I think?) of Irish politics who were against conscription. It was, as you say, part of the British Isles, but had many differences in governance.
Read it again Floyd. There was conscription in mainland UK from 1916 but that excluded Ireland (but not any irishmen living on the mainland).
By '18 therer were few able bodied men left to conscript from the mainland but the Army were still taking heavy losses. Casualties in the last 100 days were sometime heavier than at the Somme in 16.
So the Govt thought about EXTENDING conscription to the island of Ireland but this met with huge resistance (see your own link) as did similar moves in australia and Canada.
Anyway, the Downton writers were correct but the custume makers wrong.
Fascinating thread. I love history me - just dont know much about it!
Curb-It, This forum is a wonder of wartime history, WW2 Veterans contribute on the forum as well, also if you have a member of your family who served in the Great War and WW2, you can find info here. Its the only other forum I go on after CL.
I thought that "Thomas" was injured fairly early in the war, if the wound stripe was not introduced until 1916, would he have recieved it retrospectively Addickted?
"Thomas" was injured in 1916. That was when series 2 started.
As for those interested in Arnold Ridley he also was a longtime Archers cast member playing a baker called "Doughie" Hood.
Comments
Certain people who were called up objected to fighting in both world wars on the grounds of their religious and/or political views. Many wereQuakers etc who were pacifists and they often served bravely in medical teams or as ambulance drivers.
Others thought the war was wrong and refused to wear uniform and went to jail.
My dad (who was a volunteer) served with COs in mine clearing and always had a lot of respect for them. They had to put up with a lot of grief for standing on their principals. My dad said he fought the war so other people like them had the right not to.
And especially for Curb_It, from Wiki;
The British Army began awarding a brass "Wound Stripe" in 1916, with approval by King George V. The badge was worn on the left forearm, fastened through the uniform cloth. Additional badges were granted for subsequent wounds.
Is that why he always wanted to be "excused"?
He would have been most likely de mobbed on his return following on from the Armistace and would therefore not have got a wound stripe even though he had 'earned' it.
Any idea where he was taken prisoner? Ypres?
I still dont understand why there was a move late in the war for conscription in Ireland, if as you say there was already conscription.I was almost certain there was no conscription in Ireland and having referenced that paragon of correctness this morning, Wiki, it seems to confirm this.
It just doesnt make sense - am I missing something here?
Although it didnt exist in name, there was a Home Rule/IPP party pushing for independence and passing separate acts for Ireland for many years whilst sitting at Westminster.
It was both sides (I think?) of Irish politics who were against conscription.
It was, as you say, part of the British Isles, but had many differences in governance.
By '18 therer were few able bodied men left to conscript from the mainland but the Army were still taking heavy losses. Casualties in the last 100 days were sometime heavier than at the Somme in 16.
So the Govt thought about EXTENDING conscription to the island of Ireland but this met with huge resistance (see your own link) as did similar moves in australia and Canada.
Anyway, the Downton writers were correct but the custume makers wrong.
Its the only other forum I go on after CL.
http://www.ww2talk.com/
infact he was a pretty famous playwright
Arnold Ridley did write the Ghost Train but it starred Arthur Askey not Will Hay.
Will Hay was in Oh Mr Porter!
A production of The Ghost Train was on at The Bob Hope theatre last year.
Still didn't star Will Haye or indeed Will Hay.
"Thomas" was injured in 1916. That was when series 2 started.
As for those interested in Arnold Ridley he also was a longtime Archers cast member playing a baker called "Doughie" Hood.
no need to be so condescending. What are you, the new Rothko.
Oh, Mr Porter was based on the Ghost train. FACT
Given Will Hay's cimematic output is rather limited that will be mercifully short.