Reflection: why stories

Philip Austin of Northern Friend Peace Board reflects on the importance of rememebring the stories of conscience objectors

Conscription and conscientious objection were key features in the work of Northern Friends Peace Board, for which I work as Coordinator, for a significant part of its first forty years and more. During the two world wars (NFPB was founded in 1913), and in the post-WW2 period the organisation gave support and advice to those facing conscription.

Some of those who had taken a stand and refused to fight also played an active role in our work at different times. It has been moving and powerful to hear their stories over the years. Each person had their own experiences as objectors, some being absolutists and serving prison sentences, whilst others undertook alternative service, from forestry and farm work to being part of the Friends Ambulance Unit, and others still who volunteered to be part of medical tests and experiments.

Behind these facts and statistics are stories of people who had to articulate their beliefs under great scrutiny, facing criticism and perhaps significant alienation from wider society. Just as people who fought in wars continue to be affected by those experiences for the rest of their lives, it is clear that conscientious objectors and their families also carry with them the impact of that period of their lives. For some, the spirit of resolve and grim determination continued to be manifest, driving further peace activism for years to come. Others continued to wrestle with the moral dilemmas they faced, one telling me on occasion about his brother who died whilst serving in Navy – which brother made the right choice, he asked.

As with peace activism since – from early days of nuclear disarmament campaigning, to opposition to the invasion of Iraq and more recent witness for peace in the middle east – the strength of feeling, growth in understanding of and commitment to another way, and the bonds of solidarity of taking action with others … these are the further ripples that move out from the intense periods of witness and action.

Sometimes in NFPB workshops we have an exercise that invites participants to reflect on their formative experiences or times of change, and how these have shaped their approaches to peace now. Whilst as individuals, we may feel our bit of peace witness is small, hearing the different stories reminds me of the strands and threads that make up a much bigger whole, both now and into the future as we learn from one another’s stories and insights and find ways of creating new peace paths. With thankfulness for what has been done before and hope in what can be done now and in the future.

• Phiip Austin, September 2024