Quaker conscientious objector WW1

[jane k]

My grandparents were devout  lifelong Quakers attached to the Farm Street Friends  in Birmingham.  I strongly suspect my grandfather, William Henry Lyles Hayden, was a conscientious objector during WW1.  I haven`t been able to find any evidence of him having joined up and he does not appear on the Electoral Rolls until 1927 although his wife does.  (I discovered yesterday that COs were not permitted to vote during the War or for 5 years after).
Is there anyway I could find out more about what he did do during the War?  I haven`t been able to find any records for CO`s

[Mowsehowse]

What work did he do? 
Perhaps he might have been in a protected position? 
I learned this week that trug making was a reserved occupation, and trug craftsmen were not required to enlist in the military.

[jane k]

I have just this morning discoverd that he is on the Pearce Register of Conscientious Objectors. 

https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7646103

[Mowsehowse]

Detailed in some depth, which must be a boon for you.

[jane k]

Yes, I am thrilled to have found it

[mike175]

I have just this morning discoverd that he is on the Pearce Register of Conscientious Objectors. 

https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7646103

I must thank you for bringing that site to my attention. I have now found the record for my own grandfather, who actually joined the Quakers because of his pacifist beliefs. He was court-marshalled in 1917 and sentenced to 112 days hard labour. I remember him talking about his time in Wormwood Scrubs and on Dartmoor.

He lived in Essex so I doubt if there is much useful information we could share, but I do know the C.O.s had a hard time during WW1, and were despised by much of the general population.

Mike.

[jane k]

Hi Mike
You might also be interested in this site

https://menwhosaidno.org/men/menlist/a.html

there is a list of men who were conscientious objectors and you can contact them to add details of your own relative if that is something you would like to do.  I have emailed them with information about my grandfather although I don`t know a great deal

[mike175]

Thank you, I might just do that. I must do some more research on my grandad, there is probably some new data available since I last tried a few years ago.

Mike.

[Abhanliath]

There are a few references to the vicious treatment of conscientious objectors in English jails in the Bureau of Military History witness statements in the Bureau of Military History in Ireland - the Irish political prisoners observed this. Search here
http://www.militaryarchives.ie/collections/online-collections/bureau-of-military-history-1913-1921/bmhsearch/
for the word 'conscientious' and you'll find some accounts of it.