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THE MEN WHO SAID NO | ROAD TO CONSCRIPTION | CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION | PRISONS | SENTENCED TO DEATH | TRIBUNALS | WIDER CONTEXT | INDEX
GEORGE FREDERICK SMITH 1887 -  

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George Frederick Smith, born 1887, lived and worked in Sutton in an Electrical Engineering firm in 1916 when, under the Military Service Act (MSA) 1916, he was conscripted into the army. George applied to the Sutton Tribunal for exemption as a Conscientious Objector, most likely on religious grounds. While his exact motivation is unknown, later in the war he would join the newly-formed Fellowship of Reconciliation, a Christian Pacifist movement, suggesting a Christian basis for his objection to war. His Tribunal hearing did not secure him an exemption from the Army, and instead the Sutton Tribunal board passed him "Exempt from Combatant Service Only" (ECS). Instead of allowing him to avoid conscription entirely, as a CO was entitled to do under the Military Service Act, ECS meant that a CO would still be forced to join the army, albeit in a non-combatant role. For many COs this was an acceptable compromise, allowing them to hold to their conscientious principles that killing was wrong, but still operate within the boundaries of the conscription act. George, however, was an "Absolutist" CO and rejected this bargain with the military authorities out of hand. Instead of obediently reporting to the Kingston Barracks as ordered, he refused, forcing the civil and military system to place him under arrest and guard if they wanted to make him a soldier. George was arrested, fined and turned over to the army in August 1916, but continued his absolute resistance, disobeying military authority and refusing all orders. Though in the hands of the military, George was determined to make a resolute stand against this attempt to force him to collude with militarism, leaving the authorities no choice but to Court Martial him, which they did on the 11th of September 1916. This court martial was the first of several George would receive in his time as a Conscientious Objector during the war. It sentenced him to twelve months hard labour, to be served in Wormwood Scrubs, commuted to 112 days imprisonment. After serving this sentence, George was nominally a free man, but, under the terms of the MSA, this made him again eligible for the armed forces! Escorted under guard to the Winchester Depot, the cycle began again, with a court martial and prison sentence soon following. With a third sentence looming in April 1917, George accepted the terms of the Home Office Scheme, sending him to Dartmoor Work Camp. The Home Office Scheme meant a release from the cruel and punishing regime of prison, and George stayed on the scheme until his final release and discharge in 1919.

 

 

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CO DATA

Born: 1887
Died:
Address: 7 Victoria Road, Sutton, London
Tribunal: Sutton
Prison: Wormwood Scrubs, Winchester
HO Scheme :Dartmoor [1]
CO Work:
Occupation: Electrical Engineer

Motivation:

ABSOLUTIST

 


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WIDER CONTEXT | more
ROAD TO CONSCRIPTION
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CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION
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TRIBUNALS | more
SENTENCED TO DEATH | more
PRISONS | more
HOME OFFICE CENTRES | more

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