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Remember the right to refuse to kill
• JEREMY Hobson’s article (Forum, July 25) on the principle of conscientious objection, with mention of the 60,000 who refused to fight in the Second World War, is apposite.
For the Peace Pledge Union is compiling a database of every British conscientious objector (CO), not only of WWII, but of WWI, and the post-WWII conscription period – 6,800 names so far, only another 80,000 to go. It is part of a wider Conscientious Objection Project establishing a resource centre on all aspects of conscientious objection to military service and the maintenance of the right to refuse to kill.
One case of interest is that of Bert Lief, who lived in York Road (now York Way). In 1916, aged about 27, he was shipped to France with a group of COs, 35 of whom were formally sentenced to death, but immediately reprieved. Bert was not so sentenced, but did suffer long imprisonment.
Any further information on him would be most welcome, as would any information on any CO from anywhere in Britain, preferably by email, or by postal letter.
WILLIAM HETHERINGTON
Honorary Archivist, mail@ppu.org.uk
Peace Pledge Union, PeaceWorks,
1 Peace Passage, London N7 0BT
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