A NEW exhibition has opened at Bolton Museum covering the untold story of men who did not go to war.

The first part of the exhibition looks at how the Quakers, a religious body with a long history of moral opposition to armed conflict, reacted to the outbreak of the First World War.

In September 1914, they set up the Friends Ambulance Unit (FAU), which offered young men the chance to volunteer for other forms of service, running hospital trains and ships. A total of 14 Bolton men joined the FAU, 11 of whom were Quakers.

The second part looks at the impact of forced military service, or conscription, introduced by the Military Service Act of 1916.

Partly due to pressure from Quaker MPs, this included provision for men to claim ‘conscientious objection’ to military service, and set up local tribunals to hear appeals.

Nationally there were about 17,500 Conscientious Objectors (COs), and at least 93 came from the Bolton area.

Religious motivations were cited by 57 of the men and 20 were on political grounds. A total of 15 of the 93 known Bolton COs refused any involvement with the war effort and were sent to prison.

The Conscience and Conviction exhibition can be viewed at Bolton Museum and Art Gallery, Le Mans Crescent, until Friday, February 27.