the men who said no
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CYRIL HENRY BIRD 1892 - ????  

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Cyril Bird was born in 1892 in Ipswich, but by 1911 he is recorded as living with his uncle and aunt and three cousins. By 1916 he lived in East London and worked as an assistant librarian at the Eltham Free Library. He is later recorded as living in Abbey Wood at the same address as another conscientious objector, Harry Dormer.

In March 1916 the Eltham and District Times reported that he came before a military tribunal where he claimed exemption on the grounds of his religious beliefs which were ' that warfare was antagonistic to Christianity'. He belonged to the No Conscription Fellowship, and became the secretary of the local branch. He was also a Quaker and said he would not accept non combatant service. His application was refused.

His case is reported in the Kentish Independent of May 26, 1916 when he was brought before the Greenwich and Woolwich Police Court for failing to report for service. He said that he was a conscientious objector and continued, 'I applied to the tribunal but exemption was refused.' He went on to address the court at some length, arguing that he could not be considered a deserter from an organisation that he had never joined. He asked to be dealt with by a civil rather than a military court and the magistrate asked what would happen to him if he was handed over, to which the answer was that he would be posted to a regiment. The magistrate continued, 'Of course some people will not take life under any circumstances and where it is a conscientious view it is worthy of all respect, but we are up against the Germans, so it is lucky everyone does not object'. Cyril Bird then went on to explain that in the early days of the war he had tried, in a patriotic and emotional moment, to enlist but that he was put on the waiting list and only later arrived at his pacifist views. He was handed over to the military authorities but 'in view of all the circumstances' , not fined.

Cyril appealed to the Central Tribunal but said that he would not accept non combatant service. His case is reported again in June 1917 when he faced court martial in Wimbledon for refusing to sign up and wear uniform or to have a medical examination. This was probably the second time that he had faced a court martial. COs released from prison would become eligible for call up again, sending them back to the army! This court martial sentenced him to two years' hard labour which he served in Wandsworth and Wormwood Scrubs.

In mid-1916, concerned at the growing number of conscientious objectors in civilian prisons and at the public outcry about their treatment, the government introduced an alternative, known as the Home Office Scheme. COs were to be directed to useful but non-war related work in prisons or work camps. In fact most of this work was exhausting and repetitive manual labour and conditions were generally very bad. In November 1917 Cyril was transferred to a Home Office Scheme in Knutsford, where he would stay until the end of the war.

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About the men who said NO

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CO DATA

Born: 1892
Died:
Address: 39 Bostall Lane, Abbey Wood, London.
Tribunal: Wormwood Scrubs
Prison: Wormwood Scrubs, Wandsworth
HO Scheme:Knutsford [1]
CO Work:
Occupation: Clerk
NCF:Woolwich

Absolutist

 


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CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION
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