Doncaster Times Issue 1 - June 2016
Doncaster Times is a biannual publication of articles and pieces researched and written by members of the public, volunteers and professionals. For its first four years, the magazine will feature articles about Doncaster during the First World War, to commemorate the centenary. The most recent publication is available in hard copy only, available to purchase from Doncaster Museum and Art Gallery, Doncaster Central Library and the Tourist Information Centre.
Doncaster Times is a biannual publication of articles and pieces researched and written by members of the public, volunteers and professionals. For its first four years, the magazine will feature articles about Doncaster during the First World War, to commemorate the centenary. The most recent publication is available in hard copy only, available to purchase from Doncaster Museum and Art Gallery, Doncaster Central Library and the Tourist Information Centre.
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
grounds, there were also men seeking exemption<br />
for business and family reasons. Butchers,<br />
hairdressers, bakers, grocers, men with widowed<br />
mothers, ill children, and eligible men in families<br />
where all their brothers had been killed sought<br />
exemption to protect their businesses and<br />
families. Many of them were unsuccessful.<br />
In March 1916, six King’s Own Yorkshire Light<br />
Infantry (K.O.Y.L.I.) soldiers wrote to the <strong>Doncaster</strong><br />
Chronicle calling for conscientious objectors<br />
to take on the job of ‘wireman’. These men<br />
believed that offering conscientious objectors<br />
such a dangerous role, but which did not involve<br />
front-line fighting would force them to join an<br />
ordinary branch of the army. The tone of their<br />
letter seems harsh to modern audiences, but<br />
as the war raged and casualties rose, tensions<br />
ran high. Three of these six soldiers would die<br />
on the first day of the battle of the Somme.<br />
Many people agreed with the K.O.Y.L.I. soldiers<br />
declaration that those who did not serve were<br />
‘wash-outs’ but many disagreed. Even John<br />
Hubert Brocklesby’s brother, himself an active<br />
soldier, supported his brother’s convictions.<br />
Do you have a conscientious objector, a man<br />
in a protected occupation or a successful<br />
exemption case in your family? <strong>Doncaster</strong><br />
1914-18 is looking for your conscription related<br />
stories. To add your story to our online community<br />
archive visit: www.doncaster1914-18.org.uk<br />
or email: info@doncaster1914-18.org.uk<br />
Lynsey Slater<br />
<strong>Doncaster</strong> 1914-18 Project Researcher<br />
Dear Editor<br />
[We] would suggest the following method<br />
of dealing with men who plead ‘Thou<br />
Shalt Not Kill’ – In front of our trenches.<br />
There are miles of barbed wire, and<br />
men are always required to repair<br />
gaps made by enemy bombardment...<br />
Such work has to be done at night and<br />
men do not carry rifles, so there is no<br />
reason why our conscientious objectors<br />
should not be trained as wiremen and<br />
sent out here for that purpose only.<br />
What could they plead against that? …<br />
We, the undersigned, are all <strong>Doncaster</strong><br />
lads, who have had charge of platoons<br />
out here for the last six months.. so many<br />
wash-outs are left in the old town.<br />
Sergeant Edward Ellis - 20059<br />
Sergeant Walter Gibbons - 17232<br />
Sergeant (H)Oriel Marsden - 16502<br />
Sergeant Edward Poppleton - 16506<br />
Acting Lance Sergeant George<br />
Scholey - 17570<br />
Company Sergeant Major Harry<br />
Winwood - 16446<br />
•<br />
7 •
Change language