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THE MEN WHO SAID NO | ROAD TO CONSCRIPTION | CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION | PRISONS | SENTENCED TO DEATH | TRIBUNALS | WIDER CONTEXT | INDEX
SELWYN HENRY FREDERICK HAYES 1886 -  

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The story of Selwyn Hayes' experiences as a CO is one of a refusal to give any ground to, or make any compromises with, the military machine. When Conscription was introduced in 1916, Selwyn, a Quaker attender, applied for exemption as a Conscientious Objector to his local Tribunal at Teddington. Arguing from the basis of his religious faith, and that war went against the "Sanctity of human life and brotherhood of man", his application was dismissed, the Tribunal deciding that no evidence had been given that his objection was sincere. Selwyn's subsequent experiences were to prove this wasn't the case. After appealing to the Middlesex Tribunal and having his case again dismissed, Selwyn refused to give any more notice to the machinery of Conscription.

Ignoring call-up notices, he was eventually arrested as an absentee from the army. Refusing to pay the standard 40 shilling fine for an absentee, Selwyn was kept in Feltham Police Court until handed over to Houslow barracks in mid April 1916. Though in the hands of the military, Selwyn still would not make any compromise and, after steadfastly refusing any and all orders, he faced a court martial on the 28th of April 1916, which sentenced him to six months hard labour to be served in Wandsworth prison. During this first prison sentence, he was offered a place on the Home Office Scheme, allowing him to leave prison for Dartmoor work camp where the Government hoped COs would acquiesce to working on projects supposedly of national importance. Though the scheme was supposed to improve conditions for COs, in reality it was harsh and punitive and involved a compromise - marginally improved conditions in exchange for a promise of good behaviour. Selwyn was one of many COs who after experiencing the scheme felt that this compromise could not be made, and he rejected it, willingly returning to prison in November 1917. In consistently refusing to make any compromise with military authority, a stance known as "Absolutist" Conscientious Objection, Selwyn sent a clear message that Conscience could not be overriden by orders and that the war, no matter the personal cost, would not be supported by his labour.

 

 

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CO DATA

Born: 1886
Died:
Address: 25 Bushey Park Road, Teddington, London
Tribunal: Teddington
Prison: Wandsworth, Pentonville
HO Scheme:Dartmoor [1]
CO Work:
Occupation: Auditor

Motivation: 'brotherhood of man'
[2]
ABSOLUTIST

 


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WIDER CONTEXT | more
ROAD TO CONSCRIPTION
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CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION
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TRIBUNALS | more
SENTENCED TO DEATH | more
PRISONS | more
HOME OFFICE CENTRES | more

READ | more

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