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Objection Overruled
Conscription and conscience in the First World War.
319 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 23, 2014
Hugely important historical record of those who refused to fight in the first world war, and the trials that befell them for taking that stand. Jehovah's Witnesses, Quakers, and assorted Christian denominations less represented on the one hand, and those who believed in an international brotherhood of Socialists on the other hand, this small band suffered terribly, whilst still recognising those who did fight suffered far more. An uplifting reminder of what humans will do to show the sincerity and absolute faith in what they believe, whether for God or against capitalistic exploitation and imperialism.
June 5, 2024
Lions (Conscientious Objectors) who refused to be led by the Donkeys (Authority).
Thousands of young men fought for a right not to fight in the Great War. They did so in the face of social disapproval and other pressures. If you fought for peace, it earned you anything from accusations of cowardice, treachery, job loss, mob attacks, arrest, imprisonment very often with hard labour, courts-martial, and most astoundingly, execution orders. Many of these objectors suffered mental breakdowns and ill health.
This book was commissioned by Bertrand Russell and Fenner Brockway in 1966 to ensure that the resisters wouldn't go unsung as Britain commemorated the 50th anniversary of the imposition of conscription. This edition is the centennial edition, published in 2016. It is substantially enlarged and updated.
The author David Boulton was an editor of World in Action.
Thousands of young men fought for a right not to fight in the Great War. They did so in the face of social disapproval and other pressures. If you fought for peace, it earned you anything from accusations of cowardice, treachery, job loss, mob attacks, arrest, imprisonment very often with hard labour, courts-martial, and most astoundingly, execution orders. Many of these objectors suffered mental breakdowns and ill health.
This book was commissioned by Bertrand Russell and Fenner Brockway in 1966 to ensure that the resisters wouldn't go unsung as Britain commemorated the 50th anniversary of the imposition of conscription. This edition is the centennial edition, published in 2016. It is substantially enlarged and updated.
The author David Boulton was an editor of World in Action.
May 8, 2023
Without doubt a book historical significance regarding human rights and personal sacrifice, including plenty of supportive political and biographical evidence.
The content is informative and revealing and should deserve a 4 or perhaps even a 5 star review. But the editing is poor and chapters repeat themselves covering the same elements in later parts of the book. Perhaps this happens when older books are revamped and brought up to date.
Overall the books message is put across well and the historical significance is clear to the reader. But it’s a heavy read in places and the use of documents, letters and diary entries would have benefitted from some thorough editing.
The content is informative and revealing and should deserve a 4 or perhaps even a 5 star review. But the editing is poor and chapters repeat themselves covering the same elements in later parts of the book. Perhaps this happens when older books are revamped and brought up to date.
Overall the books message is put across well and the historical significance is clear to the reader. But it’s a heavy read in places and the use of documents, letters and diary entries would have benefitted from some thorough editing.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews