Conscientious Objectors who were engaged in volunteer medical work prior to the introduction of Conscription in 1916 were often encouraged to stay on in their volunteer capacities one the Military Service Act came into power. A determination to have no involvement in the war did not bar many COs from taking up medical work in hospitals that supported soldiers recovering from injuries and recuperating from service at the front.

William Ness, a 22 year old hairdresser from Nairn, was one such Conscientious Objector. Though little is known about his motivations or wartime experience, he received exemption from Conscription provided that he took up Work of National Importance based on his volunteering at the Ivybank Voluntary Aid Detatchment (VAD) Hospital in Nairn. It appears that he applied for exemption through his local Tribunal and was rejected, as after an Appeal at the County level, his case was heard by the Central Tribunal on the 4th of July 1917, which granted him exemption provided that he continued his volunteering.

Many COs around the country worked in VAD institutions on a part time or full time basis. Either working as porters and support staff without medical training, or as fully fledged medical staff, Conscientious Objectors provided invaluable support to medical services striving to undo the terrible damage war does to the human body.