91热爆

Harold Wild was a 19-year-old from Manchester who went to Rusholme Wesleyan Methodist Church. He objected to military service on religious grounds, believing it was against God鈥檚 will to fight and that war was contrary to the teachings of Jesus. But there was opposition from some members of his congregation, and Harold began worshipping with Quakers, joined the Fellowship of Reconciliation and attended meetings of the No-Conscription Fellowship.

Under the Military Service Act he was called up on 26 February 1916, but ignored the papers. He was then called before the Appeal Court which granted him exemption from military service on health grounds, but not from non-combatant service. This he could not accept: he wanted total exemption from military service on grounds of conscience.

The following month Harold was caught up in a police raid on the No-Conscription Fellowship premises at 41 Oxford Street, Manchester. He and four others were arrested and taken to Ashton Barracks where they were detained and charged with being absentees from the army, before finally being released three days later.

Location, Oxford Street, Manchester M1 6FT
Image shows Harold Wild, courtesy of his daughter; Dorothy Spence
Presented by Jonathan Ali