Conscientious objector cartoon, WWI
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Conscientious objector cartoon, WWI
Out of the frying pan - pathetic plight of unconscientious conscientious objector who learns in the Press that he may be put on to minesweeping. Conscription was introduced in Britain in March 1916 and conscientious objectors went before a Military Service Tribunal. They were generally, by this point in World War One, viewed unsympathetically.
1916
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Media ID 14127770
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
Conscientious Coward Frying Newspaper Objector Objectors Pacifist Pacifists Portrayal Scared Unsympathetic Quaking
EDITORS COMMENTS
Out of the Frying Pan: A Pitiful Plight of an Unconscientious Conscientious Objector, WWI (1916) Amidst the tumultuous backdrop of World War I, the British government introduced conscription in March 1916, compelling even those who held deeply-held pacifist beliefs to serve in the military. Conscientious objectors, who refused to bear arms due to their moral objections to war, were met with skepticism and often outright hostility from the general public. This poignant cartoon by the Illustrated London News captures the anguish and fear of an unconscientious conscientious objector as he reads a newspaper report that he may be reassigned from military service to minesweeping duties. The man, portrayed as a quaking, cowardly figure, appears to be caught between a rock and a hard place, with the caption "Out of the Frying Pan" alluding to the potential danger and uncertainty that awaits him in the minesweeping division. The cartoon's unsympathetic portrayal of conscientious objectors reflects the prevailing sentiment towards pacifists during this time. However, it also serves as a reminder of the complex and often conflicting emotions that arose during wartime, as individuals grappled with their moral convictions and the demands of their country. This powerful image, originally published in the Illustrated London News in 1916, offers a fascinating glimpse into the social and political climate of the era and the challenges faced by those who refused to conform to the dominant wartime narrative.
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