No-Conscription Fellowship (NCF)
TitleNo-Conscription Fellowship (NCF)
ReferenceORG/NCF
Date
1915-2007
CreatorNo-Conscription Fellowship
Production date 1915 - 2007
Scope and ContentPapers of the No-Conscription Fellowship including circulars and Membership and National Convention papers.
Reports of the Conscientious Objectors Information Bureau about conscientious objectors.
Papers of the Hyde group of the No-Conscription Fellowship including correspondence, papers and membership lists and letters and lists of conscientious objectors and case records and correspondence for individual conscientious objectors (mostly from the Hyde and Manchester area).
Reports of the Conscientious Objectors Information Bureau about conscientious objectors.
Papers of the Hyde group of the No-Conscription Fellowship including correspondence, papers and membership lists and letters and lists of conscientious objectors and case records and correspondence for individual conscientious objectors (mostly from the Hyde and Manchester area).
Extent1 box and 1 volume
LanguageEnglish
Archival historyAdministrative history: The No Conscription Fellowship (NCF) was formed to support those who objected to taking up arms in the First World War. These men became known as "Conscientious Objectors" (COs). The grounds of objection varied with some, such as Quakers, objecting on religious grounds, whilst others were opposed on political grounds. The movement began in the autumn of 1914 Fenner Brockway - editor of the ILP newspaper 'Labour Leader' - invited those who were not prepared to render military service to get in contact.
Small groups were established and by the beginning of 1915 the membership had become so large it was necessary to open an office in London at 8 Merton House, Salisbury Court, Fleet Street. By July1915 it was becoming clear that the government was going to introduce conscription. A national NCF convention was held in November 1915 at the Memorial Hall, London. When the Military Service Bill was introduced an enormous campaign was launched against it with over a million leaflets issued and many deputations to the House of Commons. Conscription began on 2nd March 1916 for single men and in June for married men aged between 18 and 41.
Arrests of Conscientious Objectors began in early 1916. The NCF kept records of every CO, the grounds of his objection, his appearance before tribunals, civil courts, courts martial, and even which prison or Home Office settlement they were in. They also maintained contact with COs, arranging visits to camps, barracks and prisons across the country. They also published leaflets and pamphlets and from March 1916 a weekly newspaper called The Tribunal. The Political Department briefed MPs and drafted questions to Ministers.
Altogether, about 16,000 men refused to fight. According to NCF figures 6312 men were arrested for resisting conscription. Over 800 served more than two years in prison. Thousands of other COs refused to bear arms but accepted service in ambulance units, the Friends Relief Committee or "work of national importance".
World War One ended on 11 November 1918. The final convention of the NCF took place at the end of November 1919 at Devonshire House and was attended over 400 delegates from branches all over the country.
Small groups were established and by the beginning of 1915 the membership had become so large it was necessary to open an office in London at 8 Merton House, Salisbury Court, Fleet Street. By July1915 it was becoming clear that the government was going to introduce conscription. A national NCF convention was held in November 1915 at the Memorial Hall, London. When the Military Service Bill was introduced an enormous campaign was launched against it with over a million leaflets issued and many deputations to the House of Commons. Conscription began on 2nd March 1916 for single men and in June for married men aged between 18 and 41.
Arrests of Conscientious Objectors began in early 1916. The NCF kept records of every CO, the grounds of his objection, his appearance before tribunals, civil courts, courts martial, and even which prison or Home Office settlement they were in. They also maintained contact with COs, arranging visits to camps, barracks and prisons across the country. They also published leaflets and pamphlets and from March 1916 a weekly newspaper called The Tribunal. The Political Department briefed MPs and drafted questions to Ministers.
Altogether, about 16,000 men refused to fight. According to NCF figures 6312 men were arrested for resisting conscription. Over 800 served more than two years in prison. Thousands of other COs refused to bear arms but accepted service in ambulance units, the Friends Relief Committee or "work of national importance".
World War One ended on 11 November 1918. The final convention of the NCF took place at the end of November 1919 at Devonshire House and was attended over 400 delegates from branches all over the country.
Persons keywordNo-Conscription Fellowship
Conditions governing accessOpen
Levelfonds
Normal locationAG No-Conscription Fellowship Boxes 1 and 2 (Room 37)
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