Co’s

Question 1

Facts about conscription and CO’s

Answer 1

Conscientious Objectors (or Conshies or C.Os) were people who refused to fight
during the war because it was against their beliefs
* People would be conscientious objectors for many reasons including: religion
(Jehovah’s Witnesses or Quakers), or because you were a pacifist and against war
in general.
* Many Scots were against the war for political reasons because they were members
of the socialist Independent Labour Party (ILP) and believed working men were
dying in a war fought by capitalist business owners (the bosses)
* You had to go to a tribunal to argue your case. Your case would be judged by a
panel of local people + 1 person from the military