Page:Hubert W. Peet - 112 Days' Hard Labour, Being Some Reflections On the First of My Sentences as a Conscientious Objector - 1917.pdf/2

 Westminster Gazette, Nov. 14th, 1916:—

''Hubert William Peet, thirty, describing himself as a Quaker, Socialist, and journalist, was to-day handed over to military custody by the Croydon magistrates. He is organising secretary of the Friends’ Service Committee, and joint editor of the “Ploughshare” publication of the Society of Friends. He had refused non-combatant service.''

''Addressing the Court, Mr. Peet said: “I am a Quaker and a Socialist and I believe that the teaching of Jesus means that I must confront violence with gentleness, anger with reason, hatred with good. Though I may be technically a soldier I cannot be one actually and morally, and therefore I cannot recognise any military order.”''

Morning Post, Nov. 24th, 1916:—

''At Hounslow Barracks yesterday Hubert W. Peet was Court-martialled for refusing to obey an order to parade. He declined to plead, declaring that though he might be technically a soldier, he was not one in reality and could not be made one against his will. He must disobey all military orders because of his conviction that all warfare, and not merely killing, was wrong. The Court’s decision will be promulgated in due course.''

Morning Post, Nov. 29th, 1916:—

H. W. Peet has been sentenced to 112 days’ hard labour for refusing to obey the commands of his superior officer.

Manchester Guardian, Feb. 26th, 1917:—

''Having completed his sentence of 112 days’ hard labour for refusing to obey military orders, Hubert W. Peet was released from Wandsworth Prison on Saturday and returned to his unit at Hounslow. He will be Court-martialled for the second time in the course of a few days.''

Times, March 15th, 1917:—

''Hubert W. Peet was sentenced by Court-martial at Hounslow Barracks yesterday to two years’ hard labour for refusal to obey military orders. He had already served 112 days for a previous offence.''