In World War I many Sidcot pupils and Old Scholars were forced to make difficult decisions and their conscience led them in different directions; although some took the Quaker pacifist stance, others decided to fight.

Unlike earlier conflicts, in which Quakers rarely played a part, this war involved the school more directly. Some Old Scholars reacted immediately in 1914, by opting to enlist in the Forces; others joined the newly-formed Friends’ Ambulance Unit, working on ambulance trains and convoys. The Old Scholars’ Association appealed for money to fund three ambulances, which worked on the front lines of France and Belgium for the duration of the war and were driven by Sidcot men.

Compulsory conscription was introduced in 1916. When conscription was introduced, those who had not previously participated, the older boys and some of the staff had to decide whether to accept automatic enlistment or to register as conscientious objectors. Those already in the Ambulance Unit were allowed to stay there, and their activities were widened to include agricultural duties and other reserved occupations such as teaching. Each of the conscientious objectors faced a tribunal and there were a few who refused to participate in the war in any way, eventually facing imprisonment and hard labour.

Others chose to join relief organisations such as the Friends’ War Victims Relief Committee, helping civilians and refugees. The women also played their part, working as Voluntary Aid Detachment nurses in England and France or in rehabilitation hospitals. Several were decorated by the Red Cross and one assisted conscientious objectors at their tribunals.

Sidcotians acted as their consciences dictated and many chose to fight, not only in France and Belgium, but in the Dardenelles, Palestine, Aden and India. They flew with the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service, battled in the trenches, sailed on hospital ships with the Royal Army Medical Corps – participating in every conceivable theatre of war. Sixteen men returned to Europe from the colonies, some with the Anzac forces at Gallipoli. Thirty three men died, three of them from the Ambulance Unit.

Christine Gladwin, who was a teacher at Sidcot for many years, researched the contributions of these men and women. She has written a number of history books on the School. The stories of the sacrifice of more than 250 Sidcotians in WWI are published in her book, ‘Still, Small Voice: Sidcot in the Great War’, which can be purchased for just £2 by emailing alumni@sidcot.org.uk. The book was published thanks to the generosity of Sidcot Old Scholars’ Association and all proceeds will be shared equally between the Sidcot Building Trust Fund and the Sidcot Education Trust. Christine Gladwin has also written a book titled 'Reflections of an Island: Reminiscences of Sidcot School 1930 – 1958’. This is also available to purchase, for £5. Below are a few extracts from Chapter 6, which covers the war years of WWII. 

During WWII, Sidcot opened its doors to many Jewish refugees as well as children from German families, in an effort to encourage peace between the two countries. The school also took in evacuees from London and formed a school Fire Brigade which assisted the school and the local community with fighting fires from air raids. 

By September 1940, 62 Old Scholars were involved in either fighting or with the auxilary forces. Ten of those were women, another 18 men were members of the Friends Ambulance Unit (FAU.) Two units were sent to Finland, hence the comment in a letter home: 

"Are the FAU coming back now that Finland have given in?"    
(Ronald Watts, 11 March 1940) 

Ten other Old Scholars were registered as conscientious objectors with with absolute exemption, ten more had conditional exemption and were working for, forestry or for St John's Ambualnce. 

More deaths were reported in 1941: Leslie Burdge (S: 1931 - 1937) a cadet officer in the Merchant Navy, Arthur Gibbons (S: 1927 - 1934,) Kenneth Rowlands (S:1929 - 1932) and Robert Lanchester (S:1924 -1930,) all pilots in the RAF, were killed when thier planes went down; David Crichton, (S: 1917 - 1920) captured in 1940, later died in hospital in a prisoner of war camp. The Old Scholars' Association tried to keep up the spirits of those abroad by sending post cards as a Christmas greeting. Not all reached thier destination, but those who recieved them were greatful. 

"Today I recieved the ariel photograph of Sidcot and the playing fields. It was a real pleasure to receive it and I now have it pinned up in my room. It certainly recalls one of the happiest periods of my life." Sidcot Old Scholars Association Report, 1941    

By 1943, 266 old Scholars were involved in the war in some capacity: 123 in the forces, 26 in government office, 58 old girls in women's services and 58 contscientious objectors - many of whom worked in the FAU or on the land. John Walker (S:1934 -1936) a pilot in the RAF was reported missing, believe killed and at least six men languished in prison camps. The Association continued to send greetings cards, particularly at Easter and those who had recieved medals or had done somthing worthy of note, were congratulated in the Report. 

In 1945 the prisoners of war were welcomed home and extracts of letters from several were published. Leonard P. Driver, (S:1926 - 1932) for example had beed away from England for six years. He had begun his war in India and the Middle East and was finally captured in Egypt in 1942.

To read more on the Sidcot School and the Old Scholars' involvement in WWI and WWII, please contact the Alumni office for a copies of the books: alumni@sidcot.org.uk