'THE GREAT WAR', 'THE WAR TO END WAR', 'WORLD WAR 1'
'What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
- Only the monstrous anger of the guns.'
from 'Anthem for Doomed Youth'
by Wilfred Owen
From the Publication 'The Women's Peace Crusade, 1917-1918 :
Crusading Women in Manchester & East Lancashire' |
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Abbreviations
CO |
Conscientious Objector |
DORA |
Defence of the Realm Act |
FoR |
Fellowship of Reconciliation |
ILP |
Independent Labour Party |
NCF |
No-conscription Fellowship |
NUWSS |
National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies |
UDC |
Union of Democratic Control |
US |
United Suffragists |
WCG |
Women's Co-operative Guild |
WFL |
Women's Freedom League |
WIL |
Women's International League |
WPC |
Women's Peace Crudade |
WSPU |
Women's Social & Political Union |
Main anti-war groups in WW1
1. |
The Union of Democratic Control, established during the first few days of the war by Liberal and Labour politicians, argued for a clearer and more transparent parliamentary control of foreign policy and a just peace settlement. It was one of the first political groups to involve women at all levels of the organisation.
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2. |
The Fellowship of Reconciliation: The Fellowship was established in England in the winter 1914 and worked closely with the No-conscription Fellowship. It was against all war. It is still in existence.
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3. |
No-conscription Fellowship was formed in 1914 to support men who were not prepared to fight. It had branches across the country.
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4. |
The Women's International League was established after the Women's International Congress in the Hague in 1915. The League was committed to civil liberties, a just peace, education for peace and argued for votes for all, rather than a limited suffrage. It is still in existence. |
5 |
The Independent Labour Party: Many local people wwere drawn to the ILP during the war because of its anti-war, anti-militarist, socialist approach. |
6 |
The United Suffragists absorbed women in a revitalised suffrage campaign, after the Speakers Conference in 1915 met to redraw the limits of the franchise. Lillian Williamson Forrester, the young militant Manchester suffragette, imprisoned for her role in the attack on Manchester Art Gallery in 1913, declared in 1916 (somewhat paradoxically) that 'The great duty of suffrage women is to speak for peace.' |
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