CREDITON and District U3A received a talk from Felicity Goodall about Devon’s conscientious objectors (CO’s) at its May meeting.

Felicity gave a comprehensive overview and history of the conscientious objectors in the First and Second World Wars. She used many examples and photographs to help us to relate to the individuals.

The audience heard about the imprisonment and treatment of the objectors. Newspapers, such as the “Winchester Whisperer”, were produced by the imprisoned to keep their peers in touch with what was going on (when they were not allowed to associate with each other).

These small journals were made from old-fashioned shiny toilet paper (Felicity showed us a similar roll) and ink applied with a needle kept from making mailbags.

The newspapers were passed around by, for example, hiding them in toilet cisterns.

Dartmoor Prison, which did allow free association, was also used for COs who had to dig ditches and build roads and walls. It also allowed classes to be led by some of the inmates - a bit like the U3A where members run interest groups!

Many COs were badly treated: Felicity demonstrated what “frog-marching” actually means: moving along using only one hand and leg from the same side of the body.

A volunteer from the audience, our Technical Officer, Richard, was made to stand for a short while in a punishing position.

COs from World War One were disenfranchised for 10 years and also found it extremely difficult to get employment as one of the job interview questions was “What did you do in the war?”

In World War Two 60,000 COs seeked alternative service. They worked, for example, in bomb disposal, the Fire Service, as medics on the front line and in medical research - they volunteered for dangerous jobs as they were not cowards but didn’t believe in killing their fellow man.

Thanks were given to Felicity for an illuminating talk about a misunderstood subject which sparked many questions from the audience.

The next open meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 19 at the Boniface Centre and includes a talk by Bryan Short entitled “A brief history of coinage”.

For more information please visit our web-site (U3asites.org.uk/crediton ) or phone David Agasee (chair) on 01363 775698

Jo Poulton