Yvonne
For all you ‘random page surfers’ out there –
TEASER LINES, KINDLE EDITION, 79%
“Nobody knew. Please, come up to the house now. Your grandmother will be overjoyed to see you. Everyone will. They’ll think it’s a miracle.”
Still he hesitated. “You really think my grandmother will be overjoyed to see me?”
“Why wouldn’t she be?”
He frowned. “I’m the coward. The disgrace to the family. Hasn’t she told you that?”
“She said some heated words were exchanged because of your beliefs.”
He gave a derisive snort. “It was she and my father who told me I was letting down my country when I said that I didn’t believe in fighting and was going to register as a conscientious objector. They called me a coward and no member of their family. My grandmother said everyone knew that war was wrong in principle, but if someone else starts it, they have to be stopped, and everyone has to do his duty. Actually, I was planning to volunteer as an ambulance driver, but my father got the enlistment board to refuse my request to register as a conscientious objector. I was drafted into the Devonshire regiment and sent straight to the front. That’s what they did with people like me. Get them killed off as quickly as possible.”
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So you have taken a look, will you read the book? Let me know what you think in the comments section below.
This could be a very interesting story. I can think of two men who initially enlisted as COs (one from each of the WWs) who went on to receive the Medal of Honor (the highest military award given in the US). So, yes… I think this book has great potential.
I have now finished reading this book and have made a start on putting my review together. A neat and tidy ending, albeit a little predictable, but definitely worthy of 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.
Author Rhys Bowen will be stopping by to host a pre-prepared Q&A session, on the book’s release date of February 12th, so I am not sure whether to hold my review back until after that date, or publish when it is ready?
I found reference to these two British enlisted CO’s, who both received medals.
http://www.whitefeatherdiaries.org.uk/conscientious-objector-receives-military-medal
https://www.abroadintheyard.com/britains-most-decorated-enlisted-soldier-ww1-conscientious-objector/
Thanks for stopping by, it is great to be able to keep in touch with you and I hope that all is well in your world of new found freedom from blogging schedules 🙂
I’ll have to click on the links you provided. There were films made about the two I thought of, so you might be familiar with them: Sergeant York (old Gary Cooper movie) and Hacksaw Ridge (a 2016 film).
I look forward to your review and the author’s Q&A, in whichever order you decide to post them! (I’d probably hold my review until after, but that’s just me…)
I found the links to both films you mention (both of which I have seen), however I can’t find anything quite as forgiving being done by the UK for our own CO’s – I guess that therein tells a story of its own and makes the scene I featured from ‘The Victory Garden’, even more poignant.
I shall probably take your advice and hold back on my review until after the Q&A post has aired and the book has been officially published, so you might have to wait a while for that. I have seen the Guest article though and it is very good! 🙂
This does sound intense, I have never hear of a conscientious objector. I am looking forward to your review and to the Q&A .
The Q & A looks really good, very personal and informative, so I am looking forward to sharing that with you.
I also enjoyed the book and though it to be a great piece of social history, so my review will definitely be reflecting those sentiments.
I have left you a Wiki link about conscientious objectors and if you scroll down the page a way, you will see that one of the most well known, modern day CO’s was non other than the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali.
During the first and second World Wars conscription was enforced and whilst some CO’s were allocated civilian jobs to help the war effort, they were regularly subjected to taunts by those members of society unable to fight on health or age grounds, often being the recipients of white feathers, the sign of cowardice.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscientious_objector
Thanks for stopping by. I hope that all is well with you and that you have a great week of reading planned 🙂