Remembering the Real WW1

 

Lois Bibbings, part of the Remembering The Real World War 1 group and co-curator of our ‘Refusing To Kill‘ exhibition about Bristol’s WW1 Conscientious objectors, is giving her inaugural lecture as Professor of Law, Gender and History at University of Bristol on October 31st (Halloween!)

She will look at legal cases over different historical periods, including WW1. We understand the ‘Taking A Holiday’ puppets will make an appearance!

This lecture is open to the public and entirely free. Please book in advance..

Where: Priory Road Complex Lecture Theatre, 12 Priory Road, Bristol, BS8 1TU

When: Wednesday, 31 October 2018, 6.30 PM – 8.00 PM

To book: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/law/events/2018/lois-bibbings-inaugural-lecture-time-travelling-tales.html

For more information email rememberingrealww1@gmail.com

The ‘Refusing To Kill – Bristol’s World War 1 Conscientious Objectors‘ exhibition has been at Bristol Archives since June 5th. Just as when it was shown elsewhere in the city, it has attracted lots of interest. It runs until July 14^th. While including much of the material displayed previously there is plenty that is new – both from local archives and CO relatives. See Bristol Archives website here for opening hours and how to get there.

Two events are being held at the Archives alongside the exhibition

Saturday July 7^th – 2pm – ‘Refusing To Kill‘, a talk linking the responses to World War 1 of Walter Ayles and Harry Patch. Walter Ayles, Bristol’s most prominent opponent of WW1, told his court-martial that ‘Slaughter Was No Remedy‘ before he was imprisoned as a conscientious objector; Harry Patch, the last surviving soldier to have fought in the WW1 trenches, said that ‘war was organised murder‘. This talk, illustrated with video, photographs and re-enactment will tell their stories. Speakers will be Lois Bibbings, Professor of Law, Gender & History at University of Bristol and local write and film-maker Colin Thomas.

There will be a chance to see the exhibtion both before (come early!) and after the talk.

Saturday July 14^th

From 1 pm – the opportunity for a guided viewing of the exhibition

2 pm – ‘Taking a Holiday‘ puppet show by Otherstory Puppetry

In 1916, a man of conscription age who “took a holiday” was probably on the run from the military autorities. The show tells the amazing story of how a bike shop owner in Bedminster aided runaways who refused to kill. If you’ve seen an earlier version of this show you will know how good it is. Come again, the show has developed over recent weeks with plenty of new additions.

3-4 pm – A workshop: Who Refused to Kill? Led by Professor Lois Bibbings, University of Bristol and Remembering the Real WW1 exploring how you might do your own research into conscientious objection and histories of resistance

The event is free, but please book on EventBrite here or by telephone on 07501 614256

The venue is accessible to wheelchair users.

For more information on these events email rememberingrealww1@gmail.com

The exhibition ‘Refusing To Kill – Bristol’s World War 1 Conscientious Objectors‘ which was in Bristol Cathedral and the Central Library from September 2017 until February 2018 is in Bristol Archives from June 5^th until July 14^th.

The exhibition tells the story of the almost 400 men from Bristol and the surrounding area who, for moral, religious or political reasons, refused to fight in World War 1. Alongside most of the material displayed previously, there will be new exhibits. These include documents and photographs from the Bristol Archives. We have met relatives of more conscientious objectors over recent months and we are also pleased to be able to display artefacts relating to several of them.

If you have seen the exhibition previously, then there will be more to see. If you, or anyone you know, hasn’t seen it yet then this is your chance.

Bristol Archives opening hours are on their website here.

For more information email rememberingrealww1@gmail.com

Next spring, Bristol will host a national festival which is the culmination of the year-long ‘COMMEMORATION, CONFLICT and CONSCIENCE‘ project. Focusing on the First World War then and now, the project will look at conscientious objectors to military service, strikes, mutinies, desertion and absenteeism, the men executed by the British military and the Shot at Dawn campaign which fought for them to be pardoned, the global reach of the war, colonial and commonwealth experiences, women’s peace activism, along with legacy, peace-building & alienation from commemoration.

There will be free events across the city , with films, performances, exhibitions and talks. Groups and individuals will come from across the country to showcase the work they have been doing during the centenary of World War 1.

The project and festival is funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council. The festival is timed to coincide with the centenary of the release of many absolutist conscientious objectors from prison in April 1919.

Details will be unveiled over the coming months but you can see more information on the project’s website here, including how you can get involved, especially if you have your own project you would like to make part of the festival.

You can keep up to date with the project on Facebook here and on Twitter here

For more information email rememberingrealww1@gmail.com

Bristol has its second Radical History Festival at M Shed on Sunday May 6^th. Thiis year’s festival marks the centenary of the end of World War 1 and the fiftieth anniversary of the momentous events in Paris in May 1968.

You can see the full programme of talks, films, performances & walks on the Bristol Radical History Group’s website here

The World War 1 strand has talks (and a film) as well as another chance to see the ‘On The Run’ puppet show about conscientious objectors.

Talks are:

Lois Bibbings on ‘Shot At Dawn’ – men shot for desertion and the campaign to pardon them. Full details here

Andy Comyn – The Art of Remembrance. Andy is the sculptor who made the Shot At Dawn memorial in the National Memorial Arboretum. Full details here

Ian Wright on conscientious objectors in the Forest of Dean. Full details here

Tony T & Julian Putkowski on the mutiny at Taranto. A showing of Tony’s film about this mutiny among the British West Indian Regiment in 1918 followed by a discussion. Full details here

Cyril Pearce on the ‘Men Who |Went Away’ – men whi went on the run to avoid conscription. Full details here

Full programme for the day here

For more information email rememberingrealww1@gmail.com

The (free) lunchtime talk at the Central Library on Thursday April 19th is by Lois Bibbings, Professsor of Law, Gender and History at the University of Bristol and member of Remembering the Real World War 1.

Refusing to Kill – Bristol’s WW1 Conscientious Objectors

Over 350 men from the Bristol area refused to fight in World War 1. They claimed the status of conscientious objector for moral, religious or political reasons. Some agreed to take non-military roles. Others spent much of the war in prison, often under harsh conditions. This illustrated talk tells the stories of these men and the people in the city who supported them.

Date: Thursday 19^th April

Venue: Bristol Central Library,  College Green, Bristol BS1 5TL

Time: 12.30pm to 1.20pm

You can book for the talk on the Library’s Eventbritepage at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lunchtime-lectures-tickets-37847781734

For more information email rememberingrealww1@gmail.com

140,000 Chinese men were brought to Europe as part of the Chinese Labour Corps of the British Army. They worked in difficult and hazardous conditions behind and in the trenches on the Western Front. After the war they were refused entry to Britain and shipped back to China. Under the Treaty of Versailles, the former German colonies in China were given to Japan.

Read more about the hidden history of the Chinese Labour Corps and the campaign to recognise their part in Britain’s war here

For more information email rememberingrealww1@gmail.com

In collaboration with Remembering the Real World War 1 Otherstory Puppets have put together a puppet show ‘On The Run’ exploring the experiences of men who were on the run from conscription in World War 1.

Bristol Central Library are presenting a performance of the show on Tuesday 20th March

Doors open at 7.30pm at Bristol Central Library, College Green, Bristol, BS1 5TL.

Tickets (£3 each) can be booked at your local library or via the Library’s Eventbrite page here.

Alongside the puppet show, there is a ‘Who Refused To Kill?‘ research workshop on Monday 26th March. Library staff and members of Remembering the Real World War 1 will show you how to access archive sources and online databases to find out about WW1 conscientious objectors

The workshop runs from 2pm to 4pm in the Public Meeting Room, at Bristol Central Library, College Green, Bristol, BS1 5TL.

Places on the workshop are free but limited. You can book here or by calling 0117 9037250 or email polly.ho.yen@bristol.gov.uk

For further information email rememberingrealww1@gmail.com

A couple of years ago Remembering The Real World War 1 held a meeting ‘Justice For Alice Wheeldon’. Chloe Mason – Alice’s great-grand-daughter – and Sheila Rowbotham told the story of the framing of Alice and her family for conspiracy to murder David Lloyd George in 1917 and the campaign to get her pardoned.

Now the Gloucester Theatre Company are staging a show ‘Pacifists & Protesters‘  This is made up of a new play ‘A Dangerous Woman‘ telling Alice’s story and a devised presentation, inspired by the words of poets, pacifists and other protesters. It comes to the Redgrave Theatre in Bristol on February 13th & 14th.

You can find full details, including how to book tickets on the Gloucester Theatre Company website.

Gloucester Theatre Company’s Facebook page is here.

For more information email rememberingrealww1@gmail.com