The exhibition Refusing to Kill: Bristol's World War 1 Conscientious Objectors focuses upon men from the Bristol area who refused to fight in the First World War. The more than 350 local men were part of an estimated 20,000 who claimed the status of conscientious objector for moral, religious and/or political reasons. Some agreed to take non-combatant roles in the military. Some undertook non-military roles, working on the land or in munitions factories, for example. Others spent much of the war in prison, often under harsh conditions.

‘Refusing to Kill’ gives a general introduction to conscription and conscientious objection in Britain during World War One but centres upon the history of the local area, telling the stories of the conscientious objectors from Bristol and the people in the city who supported them. Rarely seen documents are displayed together with photographs, letters and artefacts, thanks to support from local and national archives, conscientious objectors’ relatives and historians.

Curated by Lois Bibbings and other members of Remembering the Real WWI, the exhibition opened on 9 September 2017 and attracted an estimated 1000 visitors in the first week, with comment and feedback forms reflecting a continuing interest in both conscientious objection and the First World War.

To listen to a Radio Bristol excerpt of Lois talking about the exhibition, please visit the BBC iPlayer programme page (2 hours, 12 mins, 20 seconds in).