National memorial Arboretum Stake For Alfred Jefferies
Among the hundreds of thousands of men killed on both sides during the battle of The Somme in 1916 were two brothers from The Dings in St Philips, Bristol. Arthur Jefferies was killed on 16th September. His brother Alfred died on 1st November. Arthur was killed in action. Alfred was shot for desertion – the only man from Bristol to suffer this fate. They were both victims of the Somme. Along with 358 other men, Alfred was pardoned in 2006.
At 12 noon on TuesdayNovember 1st 2016, the centenary of Alfred’s execution, the Remembering the Real World War 1 group will lay a wreath in The Dings Park, Oxford Street, St Philips (map here) in memory of both brothers and all those others who died on the Somme.
Members of the Jefferies family will be there, together with Geoff Woolfe, author of ‘The Bristol Deserter’ the Bristol Radical History Group pamphlet about Alfred Jefferies. The pamphlet will be available on the day. Details of where else it is available can be found on the Bristol Radical History Group website here
An afternoon of talks featuring more hidden stories of World War 1, some local and some further afield
Memorial To Those Shot At Dawn – National Memorial Arboretum
Date: Saturday 15th October, 2016 Time: 2:30pm to 5:30pm Venue: Central Friends Meeting House, Champion Square, St Judes, Bristol, BS2 9DB Price: Donation Speakers: Julian Putkowski, Lois Bibbings, People’s Histreh
The stereotype of World War 1 soldiers dutifully marching to their deaths was always a conservative mirage. Only a handful of books have drawn attention to the hundreds of thousands of soldiers and military auxiliaries who rebelled, mutinied and challenged their commanders and political masters during the war. Among the most notable work has been that of Julian Putkowski. Along with other work on soldiers’ opposition to the war he has written British Army Mutineers 1914-1922 (1998). Julian will talk about mutinies in the British army and their effect on the conduct of the war. Lois Bibbings will talk about conscientious objectors, focusing on the different motivations of COs and on the legal-military machine which they opposed. A speaker from the Nottingham based People’s Histreh group will talk about members of the Sherwood Foresters regiment who were sentenced to death or charged with mutiny. Come along and hear stories you won’t hear in the official WW1 commemorations.
For more information email rememberingrealww1@gmail.com
Ringleaders and Reds in Khaki – British Army mutinies during the First World War Speaker: Julian Putkowski British Military historians and assorted flag-wavers celebrate the enthusiastic rush to the colours; the ensuing blood sacrifice of British Tommies, White Dominion troops and (belatedly) colonial formations and even military labourers. The stereotype of soldiers dutifully marching to their deaths was always a conservative mirage but only a handful of books have drawn attention to the hundreds of thousands of soldiers and military auxiliaries who rebelled, mutinied and challenged their commanders and political masters during the First World War. The ‘Unknown Army’, the pioneering study by Douglas Gill and Gloden Dallas produced in the late 1960’s chronicled the incidence of mutinies in Northern France and the UK; Andrew Rothstein’s brave claim that the mutineers were unconscious or perhaps semi-conscious Marxist Leninists, and David Englander’s promising exploration of khaki collective bargaining all challenge the dominant deferential stereotype. Though there have been a few TV commemorations referencing indiscipline and dissent, the absence of substantive research has left the field open to sensationalism and fantasy, and for the most part public understanding has long been skewed by ‘The Monocled Mutineer’, book and TV drama. Notwithstanding twaddle about Percy Toplis, the declassification of soldiers’ service records admits identification of ringleaders who were punished for mutiny but the personalities who successfully organised, represented and negotiated deals with generals and politicians remain largely anonymous. The latter escaped being court-martialled, they were intelligent, literate, and politically savvy individuals and their names were certainly unknown to more than a handful of mutineers. Drawing on forty years research, this talk will air and invite debate about the social interpretation, political significance and leadership of the mutinous outbreaks that convulsed the British Army during the First World War. Julian Putkowski is a college lecturer, broadcaster and writer with an established interest in military discipline and dissent in the British Army. With Julian Sykes he co-authored Shot at Dawn (1989); he actively supported the ensuing campaign to secure exoneration for soldiers executed by the British Army and the Blair government’s response in both Murderous Tommies (2011), co-authored with Mark Dunning and Three Uneasy Pieces (2014). Julian’s research about rebels in khaki was reflected in British Army Mutineers 1914-1922 (1998) and his views about military ‘collective bargaining’ can be accessed online via: https://www.marxists.org/history/etol/revhist/backiss/vol8/no2/part4-intro.html. Chronicles of Conscience: Stories of the men who refused to fight in WW1 Speaker:Lois Bibbings This paper will focus upon a few First World War objectors in order to tell a wider story not only about the differences between objectors and their stances but also about the legal-military machine which they opposed. In doing so, it will draw some comparisons with more recent times and weave in some local tales. Professor Lois Bibbings has been researching conscientious objection to the military in the UK (1914-present day) since the 1990s. Her work has focused upon the legal and gender dimensions of the subject as well as upon notions of conscience and the nature of conscientious objection. She has spoken extensively on the subject and written a series of articles as well as a book. Telling Tales about Men: Conceptions of Conscientious Objectors to Military Service During the First World War (Manchester University Press, 2009) looked at the different ways in which male conscientious objectors were viewed and treated during and after WW1. 103 Foresters: Mutinies and death sentences in the local regiment – 1914-18 Speaker: People’s Histreh Since early 2014 People’s Histreh from Nottingham have been working on a research project regarding soldiers who served in the local regiment (then known as the Sherwood Foresters) and were either sentenced to death or sentenced on mutiny charges during World War One. We intend to tell the stories of these 103 people whose experiences will otherwise play little or no role in the ongoing commemorations of the so called ‘Great War’. In doing so, we have no interest in adding to the tales of brave heroines and heroes doing their bit, and buying into the myths of a nation and an Empire coming together in a great though terrible struggle. However, we also want to make sure not to tell equally glorified tales of brave revolutionaries ending the war, yet falling ever so slightly short of actually overthrowing the status quo. In this talk we will present an overview of the project and briefly outline some of our findings. People’s Histreh (Nottingham and Notts Radical History Group) are a group brought together by a mutual interest in cake and what has been called ‘history from below‘, ‘grassroots history’ or ‘social history‘. As Nottingham and Nottinghamshire have such a long and turbulent history of socioeconomic transformation, disturbance and conflict, there is a lot to be unearthed. In fact, the most amazing, inspiring, shocking and outrageous stories leap out wherever the surface is scratched. Having worked on a variety of subjects since we first got together in 2009, we have organised numerous talks, meetings and guided walks, for instance our popular guided walks To the Castle!, retracing the 1831 Reform Riots. Our publication of the same title, along with our pamphlet Damn his charity… (on the remarkable events known as Nottingham’s ‘Great Cheese Riot’), was reprinted in our paperback book Nottingham Rising…. Our other publications include Chris Richardson’s exciting book A City of Light…, and over the last couple of years we published a number of pamphlets as part of our ongoing research project 103 Foresters. For information on all People’s Histreh events, publications, etc. please see: http://peopleshistreh.wordpress.com http://twitter.com/PeoplesHistreh peopleshistreh@riseup.net
Smoke, Gas, Strikes, Metal And Slums An historical walk Date: Sunday October 2nd Time 11.00am
Start: Temple Meads Station forecourt Well over 50 people turned up when we put on this walk in July. It was so popular we’re doing it again. So if you enjoyed it so much last time you want to do it again, or you’ve been kicking yourself because you missed it, come along on 2nd October. The walk takes about two hours. It’s mainly on the flat with one short incline. It will finish at Hydra Bookshop in Old Market where tea & coffee will be available as well as several books/pamphlets about World War 1, including the pamphlet mentioned below. There will be a collection towards expenses at the end. On 1st November 1916, Alfred Jefferies was shot at dawn on the Western Front for desertion. Join this two-hour walk through St Philips and The Dings where Jefferies and his family lived and worked, including his brother Arthur who was killed on the Somme. Learn about smoke, gas, strikes, metal and slums– the forgotten industries, back streets, schools and social history of Bristol in the early 1900s. For more about Alfred Jefferies see ‘The Bristol Deserter’ a pamphlet published by Bristol Radical History Group – details and how to order on their website here. For more information email rememberingrealww1@gmail.com or phone 0117 9243890
The scale of Britain’s involvement in World War 1 changed in 1916. Any initial enthusiasm for the war was wearing off. Early recruits had been trained and sent to the front. There was no sign of imminent victory. Volunteer numbers were drying up. Those who had opposed the war in 1914 were joined by opponents of conscription when it was introduced in January 1916. After almost two years of sporadic fighting, July 1916 saw the start of the Battle Of The Somme. Over the next two months we are putting on a number of events marking the centenary of this new stage in the war. Monday June 20th ‘Discovering British 1914-1918 War Resisters – hoped for outcomes and challenging surprises‘ – hear Cyril Pearce, Britain’s foremost researcher into World War 1 conscientious objectors and war resisters, talk about his research, including stories of Bristol people who opposed the war. Full details here. Sunday June 26th ‘Slaughter No Remedy’ – a re-enactment of Walter Ayles’ appearance before a Military Service Tribunal, exactly one hundred years after it happened, in the same room it took place. 1916 dress optional! Full details here. This will be a popular event – you need to book (free) via the link provided. Sunday July 3rd ‘Battle Of The Somme’ – a showing of the historic propaganda film with live piano accompaniment and panel discussion. Full details here. Note special price for Remembering The Real World War 1 supporters Sunday July 10th ”Smoke, Gas, Strikes, Metal And Slums’ – an historical walk through St Philips and The Dings remembering Alfred Jefferies, Bristol’s Deserter and Bristol in the early 1900s. Full details here. For more information email rememberingrealww1@gmail.com
Walter Ayles (left) with other leaders of the No-Conscription Fellowship in April 1916
“I cannot and will not kill”
Date: Sunday 26th June
Time: 2pm
Venue: Bristol Register Office, Corn Street, BS1 1JG Map: Here
Tickets are free but there will be a collection on the day to help cover expenses
Space is limited so book soon at this Eventbrite link
Please like/share on Facebook here. Exactly 100 years on and in the same room where it took place, a re-enactment of the controntation between Walter Ayles, Bristol’s leading opponent of conscription and World War One, and Lieutenant-Colonel Burges, first commanding officer of Bristol’s Own, at a Military Service Tribunal. Cast Walter Ayles – Adam Church
Bertha Ayles – Stephanie Weston
Alderman Swaish – John Bassett
Lt.Col. Burges – Michael Macmahon
Joseph Astle – Roger Ball
Under the Military Service Act which introduced conscription in 1916, men were allowed to appeal to a Military Service Tribunal to be exempted. Some appealed for family or work reasons; others because they opposed the war for moral, religious or political reasons. The Act specified that an appellant could make a statement and call witnesses. In fact, most cases were summarily dismissed by the tribunal and the men handed over to the military. Walter Ayles’ confidence and standing in the community meant he got a full hearing. Fellow members of the Independent Labour Party took a full transcript of the hearing and published it shortly afterwards. This forms the basis of the re-enactment.
1916 address optional!!
An Historical Walk Date: Sunday July 10th Time 11.00am
Start (and finish): Temple Meads Station forecourt Please like/share on Facebook here On 1st November 1916, Alfred Jefferies was shot at dawn on the Western Front for desertion. Join this two-hour walk through St Philips and The Dings where Jefferies and his family lived and worked, including his brother Arthur who as killed on the Somme. Learn about smoke, gas, strikes, metal and slums– the forgotten industries, back streets, schools and social history of Bristol in the early 1900s. For more about Alfred Jefferies see ‘The Bristol Deserter’ a pamhlet published by Bristol Radical History Group – details and how to order on their website here. For more information email rememberingrealww1@gmail.com
Showing Of historic film with live piano accompaniment and panel discussion. Date: Sunday 3rd July 2016 Time: 1.00pm Venue: Watershed Tickets: Watershed Box Office – Online or call 0117 927 5100 Note special ticket price for Remembering The Real World War 1 supporters – £4.50 Use Special Offer code BATTLE at Box Office or over the phone; Online bookings: select ‘Special offer book type’ and then put in the code BATTLE.
Please like/share on Facebook here. 1 July 1916 was the first day of the battle of the Somme. That day saw the highest British casualties of any day in World War 1. The battle continued for four months. Over a million men on both sides were killed or wounded. The British and French armies gained six miles of German territory. In August 1916 the government released the film ‘Battle Of The Somme‘. Sequences in the film were faked and the government specified what music should be played with it. The film was seen by almost twenty million people and caused a sensation. To mark the centenary of the battle, Bristol Remembering The Real World War One, Bristol Festival of Ideas and Bristol 2014 – in association with Watershed – are presenting the film accompanied by the distinguished pianist Stephen Horne. He will give a short introduction and the screening will be followed by a panel discussion between Professor David Miller (Professor Of Sociology, University of Bath), Humberto Perez-Blanco (Senior Lecturer in Film Studies, UWE) and June Hannam (Professor Emeritus of Modern British History, UWE) chaired by Andrew Kelly (Bristol Festival of Ideas and Bristol 2014). For more information email rememberingrealww1@gmail.com
Cyril Pearce is Britain’s foremost researcher into World War 1 conscientious objectors (COs) and war resisters. His book ‘Comrades in Conscience‘ looked at the anti-war movement in Huddersfield. Since then, Cyril has extended his work to look for other ‘Huddersfields’ and has created a database of British COs – the Pearce Register of British Conscientious Objectors. The database currently contains details of almost 20000 men who refused to fight in the war and is an invaluable tool for any local research. The 350 names we have published for Bristol are extracted from Cyril’s database.
The database has enabled the creation of maps of all the British counties plotting numbers and densities of COs and identifying anti-war ‘hot spots’.This research process has exposed hitherto under-researched aspects of the anti-war phenomenon – among them an underground network of safe houses and hiding places and, with the collaboration of Irish rebels, an escape route to North America.
Come and hear Cyril talk about his research, including stories of Bristol people who opposed the war.
One hundred and fifty people gathered in Station Road, Ashley Down on April 17th to see the unveiling of the Bristol Civic Society blue plaque to Walter Ayles. Ayles was Bristol’s most prominent opponent of World War 1 and was imprisoned from April 1916 until February 1919.
Among those present were relatives of Bristol World War 1 conscientious objectors, including Rosemary Arthurs, Walter Ayles’ great-niece and many of the people who contributed to the cost of the plaque.
The event was introduced by Roger Ball on behalf of the Remembering The Real World War 1 group and Bristol Radical History Group. There was music – ‘The Choir With No Name’ sang “I didn’t raise my boy to be a soldier……To shoot some other mother’s darling boy.”; Paul Bradley sang ‘The Green Fields Of France‘. Stephanie Weston, who will play Bertha Ayles in June’s re-enactment of Ayles’ Military Service Tribunal hearing (see below), recited the poem ‘The Thames And The Rhine‘. Colin Thomas gave a brief biography of Walter Ayles. Adam Church, who will play Walter Ayles in the re-enactment, read an excerpt from Ayles’ statement to Bristol Magistrates Court. Finally, Peter Gould whose father William was also imprisoned as a conscientious objector, unveiled the plaque.
Bristol Radical History Group have recently published ‘Slaughter No Remedy’ a biography of Walter Ayles by Colin Thomas. See here for details and here for where you can buy it.
On Sunday June 26th there will be a re-enactment of Walter Ayles’ appearance before the Military Service Tribunal. This is the exact centenary of the original hearing, in the room in which that hearing took place – the old Council House (now the Register Office) in Corn Street. Full details will be available soon. Space will be limited so make sure you book up whan you can.
The plans for the unveiling of the Bristol Civic Society blue plaque to honour Walter Ayles, Bristol’s most prominent opponent of World War 1, have been finalised. Please join us on Sunday 17th April at 3.30pm at 12 Station Road, Ashley Down, BS7 9LB. Tell your friends and like/share details of the event on Facebook here.
Number 70 bus stops on Ashley Down Road, outside City of Bristol College. This is at the top of Station Road. Timetable: here Map : Here(Google seems to put the arrow in the wrong place, but you can see Station Road!)
There will be poetry, song and excerpts from Ayles’s statement to Bristol Magistrates in April 1916 when he appeared after his arrest for distributing ‘Repeal The Act’ – a pamphlet calling for the repeal of the Military Service Act under which conscription was introduced. He was sentenced by Bristol magistrates court to 61 days in prison.
Walter & Bertha Ayles At The Opening Of Kingsley Hall – September 1911
After his imprisonment for distributing ‘Repeal The Act’, Ayles, the city councillor for Easton ward, was conscripted. Like hundreds of other men from Bristol and the surrounding area who opposed the war on moral, religious or political grounds he applied for conscientious objector status at a Military Service Tribunal. This was refused and he was handed over to the military. Refusing to wear uniform, he was court-martialed and served 112 days in prison with hard labour. On release he was conscripted again and imprisoned again. Overall he was imprisoned from April 1916 to February 1919. While Ayles was in prison, his wife Bertha, like many other relatives of conscientious objectors played a leading part in supporting him and continuing to oppose conscription and the war. After his release from prison, Ayles returned to Bristol and was elected MP for Bristol North in 1923.
Bristol Radical History Group has recently published a biography of Walter Ayles – ”Slaughter No Remedy’ by Colin Thomas, price £2.50. This will be on sale at the unveiling event, or online at www.brh.org.ukor from Hydra Bookshop, 34 Old Market Street, Bristol, BS2 0EZ. For more information email rememberingrealww1@gmail.com
