Were Conscientious Objectors Cowards?
However, Others Fought for People's Right to Object, Sometimes Even Offering Them Work of National Importance. Conscientious Objectors Were Often Labelled...
However, others fought for people's right to object, sometimes even offering them work of national importance. Conscientious Objectors were often labelled cowards but one thing that these men cannot be denied is courage, as it took great bravery to stand up and declare their principles in the face of great disapproval.
Who were the conscientious objectors Why?
Around 16,000 men refused to take up arms or fight during the First World War for any number of religious, moral, ethical or political reasons. They were known as conscientious objectors. Godfrey Buxton found that some of his fellow Christians questioned the war from the outset.
Were any conscientious objectors shot?
Over the course of the war, some conscientious objectors were actually taken with their regiments to France, where one could be shot for refusing to obey a military order. Thirty-four were sentenced to death after being court martialled but had their sentences commuted to penal servitude.