Names of 400 First World War Conscientious Objectors Revealed For The First Time

19 Jul 2019 12:22 PM

The most comprehensive list of conscientious objectors at Richmond Castle is unveiled in a new museum.

The names of 400 conscientious objectors who passed through Richmond Castle in North Yorkshire during the First World War will be revealed for the first time. The 400 names are included in a new museum at the castle which opens Saturday 20 July. 

Searching through over 10,000 digitised military records and existing databases, researchers at English Heritage have compiled the most comprehensive list of Richmond conscientious objectors (COs) in existence. After months of research, the list of the 400 COs highlights the hundreds of men who objected to war on moral grounds and were imprisoned or barracked within the castle during 1916-17. 

A Non-Combatant Corps uniform, possibly the only accurate representation of the uniform on display in the country, joins a number of items exhibited for the first time in the new museum. The museum will also include a rare c.1916 white feather letter, sent to chastise COs for refusing a combat role. Along with these items visitors will see a uniquely ugly ceramic propaganda sculpture of a conscientious objector bearing the word ‘conchie’ – a derogatory term for COs at the time – as well as an original conscription poster, COs’ personal postcards and photographs.

Who Were The Conscientious Objectors?

Richard Mason, English Heritage’s Curator, said:

“During the First World War, hundreds of men who objected to conscription were sent to Richmond Castle and lived, worked or were even imprisoned within these walls. But until now, there has been no comprehensive record of who they were, where they came from or what made them choose this difficult path.

“Pouring over the thousands of military records to identify these names has taken a great deal of detective work, and being able to breathe life once again into these men’s stories has been a humbling experience. But we may still never know all of the names of those who passed through the castle, and urge anyone who may have more information to come forward. These men played an important role in the future development of human rights and deserve recognition.

“I’d like to thank one of our volunteers at Richmond Castle in particular, Dawn Price, whose tireless research has been invaluable in producing this list.”

Click here for the full press release