An exceptionally rare confirmed Great War Western Front Conscientious Objector family group, the first group comprising a 1914-1915 Star trio awarded to Driver C. Jones, Royal Field Artillery who saw service on the Western Front from 29th July 1915, the second group comprising a 1914-1915 Star trio awarded to Private W. Jones, Army Service Corps, who also saw service with the Labour Corps and Non-Combatant Corps, a unit comprising enlisted men who were registered conscientious objectors, who while willing to serve in the Army were not willing to bear arms or participate in battle, he was one of approximately 3,400 men who served in the unit during the Great War.
Three: 1914-1915 Star; (98761 DVR. C. JONES. R.F.A.) British War Medal and Victory Medal; (98761 DVR. C. JONES. R.A.)
Condition: Good Very Fine
Three: 1914-1915 Star; (15468 PTE. W. JONES. A.S.C.) British War Medal and Victory Medal; (SS-15468 PTE. W. JONES. A.S.C.)
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
Along with Regular Army Certificate of Service issued to Charles Jones.
Charles Jones enlisted at Kingston-On-Thames on 31st August 1914 and saw service as a Driver (No. 98761) on the Western Front between 29th July 1915 and 26th March 1919, before returning back to England. He was discharged on 30th August 1926, his military conduct being noted as exemplary and his testimonial stating: ‘An excellent groom . who has given every satisfaction. He has been found trustworthy, sober and hardworking throughout his service.’
William Jones who having enlisted on 24th August 1915 saw service as a Private (No. 15468) with the Labour Corps, Non-Combatant Corps and Army Service Corps before being discharged on 19th March 1918.
The Non-Combatant Corps was first established by Royal Warrant in March 1916 as a result of the Military Service Act 1916, which introduced conscription in Britain for the first time. The British Army, which had no precedents or guidelines for conscription, formed the corps to provide a military unit for a category of conscientious objectors who had been conscripted but were prepared to accept only non-combatant duties, which was guaranteed in the case of the NCC. It was commanded by regular army officers and NCOs, and its members wore army uniform and were subject to army discipline but did not carry weapons or participate in battle. Their duties were mainly to provide physical labour (building, cleaning, loading and unloading anything except munitions) for the rest of the army, both in the British Isles and overseas. Conscientious objectors directed to the NCC but who refused to serve were court martialled and imprisoned. Approximately 3,400 registered conscientious objectors accepted call-up into the NCC.
In a House of Commons debate on 13 August 1919, Winston Churchill, Secretary of State for War, stated that with respect to the Army, the members of the NCC "must be regarded as soldiers, and not as conscientious objectors", as it was "entirely composed of men whose conscience permits them to serve as British soldiers, though it does not permit them to take human life". The NCC received lesser pay than most other soldiers and were generally held in lower esteem by British society. The Corps was disparagingly referred to as the 'No-Courage Corps' by some sections of the British press, and as the 'Pick and Shovel Brigade' by The Times newspaper.The NCC's establishment was opposed by the pacifist No-Conscription Fellowship. The Corps were refused the January 1919 army pay increase, and they were denied any final gratuity. The NCC was demobilised more slowly than combatants and it was not finally disbanded until January 1920