Conscientious objectors day 15th May 2015

Conscientious Objectors commemoration stone, Tavistock Sq, London (All Pic Hina Pandya Copyright res)

Friday was a really busy day for me, but not so busy that I didn't spare a thought for the conscientious objectors that declined to fight in the war.
In war sometimes people were conscripted, it wasn't a choice to go and fight, you were required to 'do what was right' for your country...
Of course the men who declined to fight were ridiculed and looked down upon, many saw their choice as pure cowardice, and the term 'white feather' was used to describe such men in WW1 and WW2.

Little white tags say the names of the objectors

Some might say their refusal to go to war, to kill another person has such humanity in it, so much hope.
So in the midst all of all the recent celebrations we've had of the fallen on Victory day and Liberation day it seemed fitting that I visited the 'conscientious objectors' memorial in Tavistock Square, which also happens to be right opposite the BMA where the bus was blown up on 7/7.

People had laid long stemmed white roses and white carnation flowers around and on this large stone seemingly just placed at the edge of a large patch of grass. Each has a little tag tied around it, naming the person that was a conscientious objector of the time.

It should be said that many of these men and women, though refused to fight in WW1 did fight in WW2 because they saw more of a cause to fight for.
It takes courage to stand up for what you believe, whether it means to go and fight in a war you believe in or to refuse to fight because you don't want to kill.
I think it's important to recognise this.
The inscription on the stone says: "TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE ESTABLISHED AND MAINTAINED THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO KILL. Their foresight and courage give us hope."

for those all over the world and throughout all times of war and fighting

Around the edge it says: TO COMMEMORATE MEN AND WOMEN CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS TO MILITARY SERVICE ALL OVER THE WORLD AND EVERY AGE"

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