Joseph Bigland Fryer (1897-1921)
Served with the Friend's Ambulance Unit
At his hearing at the Bishop Auckland Tribunal, where he was aided by Jonathan Edward Hodgkin, Joseph Bigland Fryer gave the following statement:
” I base my objections to all military service, combatant and noncombatant,
on the teaching of Jesus Christ, which I believe was :
That all men are brethren, and that the individual soul, however
debased it may seem, is capable of such an infinite amount of good
that I dare not take any man’s life; that the only true method of
changing the evil mind of men—which was the most important
thing to do, is by trust in them and love of them ; and that indiscriminate
violence, as applied in war, can never change men’s evil
minds. It increases hate and evil passions, which can be overcome
only by love and goodwill. Therefore, my actions should proceed
from love of my fellow-man. I cannot see any circumstances in
which I should be able deliberately to kill a man in love of him.”
(As reported in the Old Leightonian magazine, see below)
The tribunal ruled that he should be granted exemption from combat if he joined the Friends’ Ambulance Unit, which he did in August 1916. Joseph served aboard the hospital ship “Glenart Castle” until March 1917. The ship was sunk by German submarine on 26 Feb 1918.
He was then transferred by the General Service Section to the Wallingford Farm Training Camp. The General Service Section of the FAU arranged for conscientious objectors to do work of national importance, such as farming or education. According to the Leightonian, Joseph hoped to continue his education after the war by attending King’s College, Cambridge.
He died in 1921 while climbing in Hintorux near Innsbruck, Austria.
FAU Index Card
http://fau.quaker.org.uk/search-view?forename=joseph&surname=fryer
Wallingford Farm Training Colony
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/labourcolonies/
Old Leightonian magazine:
http://www.worldwar1schoolarchives.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Leightonian_1916_07.pdf
Blog post about the FAU:
http://quakerstrongrooms.org/2014/05/22/library-resources-for-researching-world-war-i-friends-ambulance-unit/
More information about hospital ships including the Glenart Castle:
http://www.qaranc.co.uk/hospitalships.php
Civil Parish: North Bedburn
Birth date: 1897-Dec-7
Death date: 1921-Jul-8
Armed force/civilian: Civilian
Residence: Smelt House, Howden-le-Wear (1901 census and FAU Index Card)
Education: Leighton Park School
Religion: Quaker
Organisation membership: Friends Ambulance Unit
Family: Mother: Annie Matlida Fryer, nee Bigland (1901 census and FAU Index Card)
Sister: Doris Lucy Fryer (1901 census)
Gender: Male
Contributed by Durham County Record Office | Cyril Pearce
