THE MEN WHO SAID NO | ROAD TO CONSCRIPTION | CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION | PRISONS | SENTENCED TO DEATH | TRIBUNALS | WIDER CONTEXT | INDEX
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THE MEN WHO SAID NO | ROAD TO CONSCRIPTION | CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION | PRISONS | SENTENCED TO DEATH | TRIBUNALS | WIDER CONTEXT | INDEX |
| CHARLES WILLIAM SONNEX 1883 - |
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| Charles Sonnex lived in West Norwood and was working as a Compositor for a local printing firm when he was conscripted in 1916. Married and in his mid thirties, he was in one of the later "groups" of men to be called up under the Military Service Act and his Tribunal hearing in Lambeth was probably towards the end of 1916. He was a member of the local branch of the No-Conscription Fellowship, and the south London NCF branches were known for their fervour and determination - there were often large and noisy demonstrations outside Tribunal hearings! Charles was turned down by his Tribunal and passed exempt from Combatant service only, a decision that Charles did not accept. As an Absolutist Conscientious Objector, Charles refused to make any compromise with the military - including taking up non-combatant service. Instead, Charles chose the hard line of refusing all military authority, which swiftly saw him sent to Wormwood Scrubs prison, and a cycle of release and rearrest that only ended in 1919. Charles was one of many thousands of Absolutist COs who rejected the compromises of the Home Office Scheme and, when offered release from prison under the Scheme in May 1917, refused to accept it - willingly returning to the harsh and punitive conditions of prison. When in prison, Charles cleverly stated that he was a Quaker, allowing him access to Quaker meetings and visits from Quaker attenders. Many non-religious COs took this action when sent to prison, guaranteeing them at least a short time every month in the presence of other COs and ensuring a sympathetic ear who could report grievances to prison authorities. He was finally released under the "Two Year Rule" which allowed the discharge of long-serving COs, and walked free from Prison and Conscription in April 1919.
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