Horror punishment for refusing conscription as Brits warned ‘prepare for WW3’

The article explains how conscientious objectors were punished when conscription operated in Britain, amid renewed calls for military service because of security concerns and the Army’s reduced size. The Government says it has no plans to reintroduce conscription and is focusing on a professional force, though the article notes some believe that could change in a major conflict.

About 16,000 men rejected the call-up in the First World War and more than 60,000 in the Second. Objectors approved on moral, ethical or religious grounds could serve in civilian or non-combat roles; those refusing all work risked prison. More than 5,000 were jailed in the First World War, typically for 112 days of hard labour, including a month in solitary confinement. Historian David Swift said any future penalties might instead be fines.