Men whose claims to exemption were rejected by local tribunals, as so many were, could appeal to County wide Appeals Tribunals. After the war, the records of most Appeals Tribunals were destroyed. Those of the Edinburgh Tribunal were one of a small number which were preserved and so give an important window into the significant history of resistance to war in Scotland. These records are available to review at the National Archives of Scotland.
To mark the centenary of the end of the armistice each day from mid-October until late November 2018 we will post a brief account of the experience of one of 237 First World War Conscientious Objectors who appeared before the Edinburgh Appeals Tribunal. These synopses have been compiled by Edinburgh Peace & Justice Centre intern Margherita Distrotti. Click the name to read about one of the COs.
Opposing War: A Memorial 