Jack Sadler’s Story

John George Sadler (always known as Jack) was 28 in 1916. He was a self-employed jobbing builder in Byker, Newcastle-on-Tyne. He believed that if there were no armies or navies there would be no war, and the way to stop war would be for everyone to refuse to join the armed forces. When conscription came, he and his two brothers, James and Mark, refused call-up. Jack applied to his local Tribunal in Newcastle for recognition as a conscientious objector, which would exempt him from military service. Find out more about Jack here