大象传媒

Douglas Maynard lived at 130 Oak Tree Lane in Birmingham during World War One. In 1916, when conscription was introduced he was too old to be called up for military service.

As a Quaker and pacifist, and opposed to the war; he befriended other young men due to be called up and who wished to be conscientious objectors. He acted as a mentor and leading activist in Birmingham for young men who opposed the war both locally and nationally and around the country. He corresponded with them via letters, some from those who had been sent to prison.

Many letters and correspondence from conscientious objectors did not survive after the war. But a chance find in a house in Birmingham 40 years later meant a collection of the letters were discovered that tell the story of the struggles and thoughts of those who decided to oppose the war in various ways. Bill Hetherington is the archivist from The Peace Pledge Union and it was his brother who found the important collection of letters in what is a remarkable story. He explains the importance of this find and the life of a conscientious objector during the Great War.

Location: 130 Oak Tree Lane, Selly Oak, Birmingham B29 6HY
Image shows the location where Douglas Maynard would have lived during the war