Ring Out the Thousand Wars of Old: The Forest of Dean World War One Conscientious Objectors (Bristol Radical Pamphleteers)

Number #42 in the Bristol Radical History Pampleteer series (although this one is a longer, spined book) . Author Iain Wright presents research on 28 men from the Forest of Dean who, during World War One, sought recognition as conscientious objectors rather than be called up to fight. This is the story of those men, the options available to them, the way they responded and what they did after the war. Ring Out The Thousand Wars of Old explores the role that religion, class, culture and place had on these individual decisions. It argues that the actions of the COs were an expression of a much wider anti-war sentiment, reflecting increased war weariness as casualties mounted and opposition to conscription grew.