conscientious objectors Bletchley Park

Discussion in 'Top Secret' started by Doig, Nov 9, 2010.

  1. Doig

    Doig Junior Member

    I am doing some research into CO's who were working at bletchley during ww2.
    Turing was a registered objector (at one time) as was his boss. Can anyone help me find a list, everywhere I turn the doors seem to be closed.
    Please help.
    dougfoth (at) hotmail.com
    Thankyou
     
  2. geoff501

    geoff501 Achtung Feind hört mit

    I am doing some research into CO's who were working at bletchley during ww2.
    Turing was a registered objector (at one time) as was his boss. Can anyone help me find a list, everywhere I turn the doors seem to be closed.
    Please help.


    There is nothing in his rather detailed biography about being 'a registered objector'. There were several pacifist movements during his time at university, which had sprung up after the carnage of WW1 and he was for a time a member of the 'Anti-War Council'. But he had said he was not a pacifist on other occasions. I believe he was recruited by GC&CS pre-war so there was no question of him required to do military service. There is a very interesting story, he was required to enlist in The Home Guard and eagerly joined the infantry section. He became rather a good rifle shot, then repeatedly did not turn up for parade at the drill hall. When questioned as to why, he pointed out that the question on the enlistment form "Do you understand that in enrolling in The Home Guard you place yourself liable to military law?" - he had answered 'No'. Being improperly enrolled, they had to let him go. He had achieved his objective of becoming a first class shot.

    Incidentally, who was his boss you refer to?
     
  3. Drayton

    Drayton Senior Member

    I agree with Geoff that there is absolutely no evidence that Alan Turing ever registered as a conscientious objector. Such evidence as there is points the other way.

    Max Newman, another Bletchley worker, was accepted as a WW1 CO by York Local Military Service Tribunal in March 1918.
     

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