The idea of interviewing Frank Booth, my husband’s uncle, grew out of both my interest in conscientious objection, catalysed by my own peace activism, and the desire that his grandchildren and grand-nephews should have the opportunity to understand their strong peace heritage. Though this is written for the family, I hope to persuade Frank to allow a copy of it to be lodged in the small conscientious objectors archive in the Imperial War Museum, where I spent several interesting afternoons on preparatory research.
The putting together of this document has been long delayed. I am essentially a deadline person and I did not have one, Frank being far too gentle to make demands to see it all. However, Frank’s 90th birthday seems a most appropriate occasion for this to be unveiled to the family. I had hoped to follow this initial interview with at least one more and possibly some wider research into Frank’s father, sister and conscientious objector friends. I may still do so bit do not want to delay presenting this first interview further.
This interview is about Conscientious Objection – others have interviewed Frank about other aspects of his life. An article in the local magazine Reflections in October 2010 recorded the impact that Frank the teacher had on young people and the school at which he taught. I think the story of Frank the walker is yet to be written.
Frank is not the only or even the first conscientious objector in his family. His father was a conscientious objector during the First World War (1914 – 1918), when it was dangerous to declare it. His sister joined him in objecting to the Second World War (1939 – 1945). Furthermore, Frank’s wife, Audrey, tells me that Frank’s grandfather wrote to the local paper protesting against the Boer War (1899 – 1902). Frank’s children are too young to have been called up for national service but they and other members of the family have regularly attended anti-war and CND protests. For Frank, as he makes clear in his interview, his conviction extends to opposing war, not just rejecting his own direct participation in violence.
The main section is the transcription of my interview with Frank conducted on 1 February 2003 at his home in Sutton Scarsdale. It is preceded by a very short overview of conscription and conscientious objection in the UK and followed by a list of some of the books and websites I have used as a basis for further reading.
Liz Philipson, 2011.