Three Guys, Conscientious Objectors
by Peter Anderson

Blog: No. 006 (02/03/2018)

John Maclean (24 August 1879 – 30 November 1923). Born in Pollokshaws on the outskirts of Glasgow, John was Britain’s only revolutionary communist. The others of his era, Manny Shinwell, Willie Gallacher and the other leading lights of Red Clydeside were Parliamentarian Communists. Educated at the University of Glasgow where he obtained an M.A, John spent most of his adult life teaching other adults in Glasgow and founded the Scottish Labour College. He was Britains first Bolshevik Consul, although not recognised by the Westminster Government. Imprisoned for his anti-war stance under the provisions of the Defence of the Realm Act (DORA) he went on hunger strike and was released after protests. In April 1918 he was again arrested. At the beginning of December 1918 he was released. An event commemorated in a song by Hamish Henderson:

Hey Mac did ye see him as ye cam’ doon by Gorgie,
Awa ower the Lammerlaw or North o’ the Tay?
Yon man is comin’ and the haill toon is turnin’ oot:
We’re a’ sure he’ll win back to Glesga the day.
The jiners and hauders-oan are marchin’ frae Clydebank;
Come on noo an hear him – he’ll be ower thrang tae bide.
Turn oot, Jock and Jimmie: leave your cranes and your muckle gantries.
Great John MacLean’s comin’ back tae the Clyde.
Aye, Great John MacLean’s comin’ back tae the Clyde.

Alexander Robert Cook, buried in Stow, Selkirkshire.

Image: Find a Grave

Alexander was a school teacher in the Shetlands. He appeared before a Military Service Tribunal in March 1916 for an exception to military service. The tribunal only granted him an exemption from combat and he was called up for the Non-Combatant Corps. Alexander refused and at the beginning of March 1917 he was arrested and handed over to the Military. The Army took him to Fort George where because he refused to put on a uniform he was court-martialed and sentenced to 112 days imprisonment in Wormwood Scrubs. He was then afforded the opportunity to participate in the Home Office Scheme, with consisted of forced manual labour on war-related projects in the UK, as well as construction and road building. He refused and was sentenced to serve with his unit again. He disobeyed any and all orders. This time his fate was to be imprisoned in the notorious Bar-L (Barlinnie Prison, Glasgow). Eventually released back to his unit through illness, he still refused to wear a uniform or obey orders and spent the remainder of his life in and out of hospital suffering from both physical and poor mental health. He died in Dykebar War Hospital, Paisley, on 13 June 1919.

Jamie. Not much is known about Jamie. I learnt of him in a letter written by an officer of the Royal Scots which was sent to his family during World War One. Jamie was a conscientious objector who did not want to be thought of as a coward. So, he enlisted. Every time the battalion went into action, Jamie went with them. If they went over the top, Jamie went over the top. All Jamie did was unclip his magazine, made sure his rifle was unloaded and put his bayonet back into its sheath. Jamie as a matter of conscience and a devout Christian was not going to kill anyone and made sure he never did. As far as I know, Jamie survived the war

Peter is a researcher and blogs at The Great War (1914-18).
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