Lois has been researching conscientious objectors (COs) to military service, focusing particularly on WW1, for nearly 30 years. She has spoken and written extensively on the subject. Her book 'Telling Tales about Men: Conceptions of conscientious objectors to military service during the First World War' (2009), looks at the way in which these men were viewed and treated. Amongst other things, the book challenges the notion that COs were universally ostracised, vilified and treated as cowards and shirkers. It demonstrates that they were also viewed in much more positive terms and supported and helped by communities.

In the programme Lois explains that COs could be legally exempted from conscription but did not always gain that recognition in practice. In addition, harsh treatment as a result of this non-recognition could create sympathy towards objectors, which worried the authorities and led to a number of policy shifts. 

"The position in terms of how they were seen was rather mixed. They were supported - there were networks of supporters around the country either political organisations or religious groups. So there were divisions on how they should be treated." 

"Formally, in terms of the law, they were to be recognised. So what we have here is non-recognition, despite fairly generous legal provision. A problem created by this non-recognition was that, from the point of view of the authorities, too harsh treatment might garner them more support and affect the war effort and, of course, conscription - and too lenient treatment might encourage others to follow them and might also threaten conscription and the war effort." 

"There were real worries by the authorities about [public sympathy for COs as a consequence of their harsh treatment]. What we get is a series of policy shifts. For example, in terms of the men who went into the military and were court-martialled and suffered a range of punishments, it was decided that court martial sentences would be served in civilian prisions, which were not easy regimes at that stage, they had a lot of the character of Victorian times, but they were certainly less harsh than being in the military." Professor Bibbings

"The government made it clear that it did not want to repeat the experience and be guilty of persecution as it had during the First World War. In the Second World War conscientious objectors were treated more generously. It not only had its effect on liberty and conscience in this country, but I think all over the world." First World War CO

Lois is currently writing about 'conscience' and is leading a national festival looking at 'hidden' or lesser known stories of the First World War, on legacy, peace-building and alienation from commemoration. COMMEMORATION, CONFLICT and CONSCIENCE aims to unite existing community groups and researchers, focusing on their work to date and generating new material and research and also to showcase existing artistic work and performances and foster new creative projects.

Click here to listen to History Hour's 'WW1: Britain's Conscientious Objectors', with Lois' interview starting at 09.42 minutes into the programme.