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On This Day

17

Jan
2017

In On This Day

By Nicola Gauld

On This Day, 17 January 1917

On 17, Jan 2017 | In On This Day | By Nicola Gauld

Birmingham Daily Gazette

Wednesday 17 January 1917

PROTEST AGAINST WAR

BIRMINGHAM MAN’S DEFENCE AT COURT-MARTIAL

Hugh Gibbins and Wilfred E. Littleboy who were acting secretaries of the Society of Friends in Birmingham, appeared before a district court-martial at Warwick yesterday on a charge of disobeying the lawful command of a superior officer by refusing to put on uniform when ordered.

Both defendants admitted a technical offence, and in their defence made statements to the effect that they never agreed to serve as soldiers, being brought to the barracks under protest. Gibbins in the course of a lengthy statement, said an opportunity having been given him of disobeying a military order, he did so, and it would no doubt constitute guilt in the eyes of the court. His mind, however, was clear of guilt, and he should stand condemned by a higher power has he been false to the light he believed God had given him. The call of God should be heard by every man, and each one should be free to obey.

He was convinced that war was wicked, contrary to the interest of human society and incapable of accomplishing the purpose for which it was undertaken by nations. Holding those convictions, he could not undertake any service which the State might wish to exact from him owing to the occurrence of war.

“I believe that a better way has been shown us by Christ,” he said, “and that power has been given to us to take this way -that war and all preparations for it make the peoples of the world work in wasteful antagonism instead of in cooperation, and that, therefore, war is a great bar to the advance of mankind in well-being and happiness.”

His wish was to serve his fellows and to show that no man need fight or send another to fight. He knew that the hope he had might take long to realise, and that total disarmament of all nations might seem a dream, but he was none the less certain that it could be made a fact when men trusted the good in each other rather than the evil.

The court announced the sentence would be promulgated in due course.