11 November 2016 £1.90 the discover the contemporaryFriend quaker way

The futility of war the Friend Independent Quaker Journalism Since 1843

Contents VOL 174 NO 46

3 Thought for the Week: Lesley Anne Morris I honour those who, in loyalty to conscience, have gone out to 4-5 News fight. In a crisis like the present 6-7 The White it would be unbecoming to elaborate the reasons which have Symon Hill led me to a course so different. 8-9 Letters Today a man must act. I believe, 10-11 The Scillin tragedy with the strength of my whole Ernest Hall being, that standing here I am enlisted in active service as a 12-13 Simplicity: soldier of Jesus Christ, who bids A personal response every man be true to the sense of Anne de Gruchy duty that is laid upon his soul. 14 Letter from France Richard Thompson Corder Catchpool Quaker faith & pactice 24.23 15 Poem: A sense of belonging Barbara Tonge Corder Catchpool spent two 16 q-eye: a look at the Quaker world years in prison as a conscientious 17 Friends & Meetings objector in world war one.

Cover image: Aleppo, Syria. The futility of war. Photo: William Proby / flickr CC.

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2 the Friend, 11 November 2016 Thought for the Week

Swallows dip & dive children silhouetted fragments rifles – rattle of broken minds – hearts – limbs – here we go again – words milked of every last squeeze of feeling – no – juice – left husks on a tired thread of hate my little soldier bare bones for beating no blood left for serious passion dusty wind blows silent screams over the desert tears and tumbleweed the rape of souls disintegration rubble debris ashes dust dreams dust children our deadline

Lesley Anne Morris Witney Meeting

the Friend, 11 November 2016 3 News Pride of place for peace White poppies made at a all wars and to offer hope.’ workshop during last year’s She explained the thinking Regional Gathering are now in behind the frame: ‘In designing place at Liverpool Meeting House. the best way to display the The clay poppies were produced poppies, the open, light, yet at a workshop run by artists surprisingly strong structure of Marie Louise Williams and Chloe willow work seemed to reflect Augusta Randall, both members of the qualities required for growing Wirral and Chester Area Meeting. lasting peace. The particular form In the year since the Regional was initially inspired by the idea Gathering Marie created a wire of two sheaves of corn leaning and wicker frame for the poppies, against each other but took on its using basket weaving techniques. own momentum as the sculpture Marie said: ‘When Chloe and I progressed, separating and coming were invited to deliver a creative together and reaching up to spiral workshop at Regional Gathering into the symbol of infinity at the 2015, the “weeping window” t op.’ installation of red poppies had just Marie described the work she been installed at St George’s Hall did on the ‘Gathering Peace’

in Liverpool. We felt it would be installation as ‘almost like Photo: Lisa Hoyle. adventurous to respond by creating ministry’, adding that she hoped The Quaker Centre Bookshop some ceramic Peace Poppies, it would continue to draw people at Friends House, 9 November, which could be displayed at the into the Meeting house and to had sold more than 6,000 white Meeting house to commemorate encourage them to buy the white poppies. all those who had lost their lives in poppies on sale there. Scottish Friends initiative and other peace groups in Scotland are ‘By gifting a white poppy to each Scottish political inviting Scottish political representatives to wear a representative we are offering an alternative symbol white poppy in remembrance of all the victims of war, of remembrance, which implies hope for a world military and civilian. where conflicts are resolved without violence and White poppies have been sent to all 129 members of with justice.’ the Scottish Parliament, the fifty-nine Scottish MPs in The initiative has been organised by Quakers Westminster, and to all six Scottish MEPs. of General Meeting for Scotland, the Women’s Elizabeth Allen, convenor of the Scottish International League for Peace & Freedom and the Quaker Parliamentary Engagement Group, said: Edinburgh Justice and Peace Centre. Friends in interfaith dialogue on The Quaker Council for Mikhail is a senior research explained: ‘Many faith groups European Affairs (QCEA) recently fellow at the Russian Academy work independently in Brussels to organised an interfaith lunch in of Sciences, and a specialist promote human rights. Working Brussels to highlight the situation in on Islam and on the North with development organisation Ukraine. Caucasus region. He spoke of his World Vision, QCEA is creating The discussion on Ukraine took meetings with leading members a new space for faith-based place at Quaker House, Brussels, of the Crimean Tatars, and the organisations to meet and find on 27 October. Mikhail Roshchin, Ukrainian Orthodox, Lutheran and opportunities to support each clerk of Moscow , Pentecostal communities. other’s work.’ presented the findings of his most Eleven European-level faith The new QCEA peace programme recent fact-finding visit to Crimea representatives took part. lead Olivia Caeymaex will guide this and eastern Ukraine. Andrew Lane, of QCEA new initiative.

4 the Friend, 11 November 2016 reported by Tara Craig and Harry Albright [email protected]

Dorking Friends share stories of the third age Nine Dorking Friends met practical issues, such as carrying a discussed how the Meeting house – on 4 November to share their note of necessary medication and which was built in 1846 – might be experiences of growing older and contact details for a doctor and a made more user-friendly for older to discuss how best to adjust to it. next of kin. people. Rachel Hope, one of the Rachel explained: ‘we spoke Suggestions included improving organisers, told the Friend that the of the ongoing responsibility for the seating and finding a way informal gathering was prompted other people, such as a partner to make it easier for the hard of by a discussion between two who was ill or lively grandchildren hearing to be able to participate Friends over tea after Meeting for to care for. We spoke of our fears more fully. Worship. for ourselves and for the future, The conversation then ‘deepened She said the talk ranged widely, particularly physical deterioration to another level’, Rachel concluded, covering everything from the need and dementia.’ with a Friend reading a poem, to save energy and pace oneself to The Friends involved also which she had recently written.

Quakers join protest at London Transport Museum Friends are among a protest at the museum and supplies missiles, event was organised those calling on the on Sunday 6 November drones and other military to highlight arms sales London Transport to witness against its products. by the company to Museum to end its sponsorship deal with The protest was ‘repressive regimes’, such relationship with arms Thales. Thales is the organised by Campaign as Saudi Arabia, Russia, company Thales. twelfth largest arms Against the Arms Colombia, Kazakhstan Several Quakers joined company in the world Trade, who said the and the UAE.

Banks urged to be more transparent There is significant public support for banks to that a bank invests in is an important factor for them be more transparent about how they use customers’ when they decide where to bank. money, a new poll for Christian Aid has revealed. Christian Aid is launching a new campaign to urge The new ComRes poll reveals that seventy per cent bank account holders to ask Barclays, RBS, Lloyds of British adults want banks to be legally required to and HSBC whether they have a climate plan for their reveal where they invest their individual and corporate customers’ money. customers’ money, while only fourteen per cent A new report by the charity shows that the big four disagree. banks are still much more heavily invested in fossil Half of British adults say that the type of companies fuels than in clean energy.

AFSC backs black lives The American Friends Service Black Lives, noting its consistency Among them are reparations for Committee (AFSC) has endorsed with AFSC’s values and history.’ harms and investing in education, the policy platform put forward by He continued: ‘The board health and safety. the Movement for Black Lives, its asked staff to look at work they Shan Cretin, the AFSC general board of directors has announced. are already doing and consider secretary, said: ‘In many ways Phil Lord, AFSC board what more AFSC might do to the Movement for Black Lives clerk, said: ‘Following a clear contribute to the achievement platform is aligned with our key movement of the spirit, the board of the Movement for Black Lives work areas at AFSC: building enthusiastically approved AFSC’s p l at for m .’ peace, immigrant rights, addressing support and endorsement of the The Movement for Black Lives prisons, just economies, and platform of the Movement for platform includes six demands. ending racism and discrimination.’

the Friend, 11 November 2016 5 Talking point

The White Poppy

Symon Hill, of the , reflects on the history and meaning of the White Poppy n recent days I have developed a wholly unexpected would take no part in war. Within a year 100,000 people sideline giving radio interviews about football. had signed the Peace Pledge. Two years later they The games teachers of my school days would formed the Peace Pledge Union. But Sheppard warned Ibe considerably surprised, having despaired of my that signing the Peace Pledge ‘may cost you something ineptitude at sports. I have, however, been talking that you cannot foresee or foretell’. about only one aspect of football: FIFA’s ban on players Pacifists had a great deal to do. In 1935 Benito Mussolini wearing a poppy. invaded Abyssinia and Quakers joined with other peace Journalists have struggled to find any group of activists to campaign for an arms embargo on Fascist people in the UK willing to say yes, the Red Poppy is Italy. The arms industry successfully lobbied against it. political. The Peace Pledge Union (PPU) – producers In 1937 the PPU held its first alternative Remembrance and distributors of the White Poppy – are one such Day ceremony. In the same year two PPU members were group. We have, therefore, been in demand. sacked from their jobs for wearing White Poppies at This has come with a cost. In the last few weeks work. In 1938 White Poppy sales reached 86,000 in a year. I have received messages calling me a ‘disgrace’, a By 1940 the PPU had 140,000 members. Pacifists ‘reptile’, ‘intellectually challenged’, ‘totally lacking in made plans for an underground network if the Union compassion’, and some words too upsetting to repeat. was banned. The decided against a ban, This is nothing new. World war one was barely over assuring MPs that he was having ‘a close watch kept’ on before people were arguing about how to remember it. the PPU. Several PPU members were prosecuted for Red Poppies were sold from 1921. From the beginning, displaying anti-war posters. they were deeply political. They were sold to raise money for ex-soldiers. The fact that such money was Re-launching needed at all was a result of the government’s failure to fulfil its promise of ‘a land fit for heroes’. Returning Throughout the war, the PPU was accused of helping soldiers instead found a land of mass poverty and the Germans. But when the Allies captured Berlin in unemployment. 1945, they found in a government building a list of At this time, the phrase ‘never again’ was commonly people who would have been immediately arrested if used on . But tension was apparent. the Nazis had conquered Britain. They included three Do we honour the dead by working for peace or by leading members of the PPU’s National Council. showing support for armed forces? The PPU remained active over the following decades although White Poppies appeared only intermittently. An alternative It was not until 1980 that London Peace Action re-launched the White Poppy. Shortly afterwards the The earliest known suggestion for an alternative to Red PPU agreed to take responsibility for it. Around 30,000 Poppies appeared in a pacifist magazine in 1926. As Red White Poppies were sold each year by the mid-1980s. Poppies became more associated with armed forces, So, in 1986, it was understandable that the PPU ordered criticisms from peace activists increased. In 1933 the only a similar number from their suppliers. As it turned Co-operative Women’s Guild produced an alternative: out, this was a mistake. White Poppies. PPU staff were in a meeting on 28 October 1986 The next year Anglican clergyman Dick Sheppard when they were interrupted by a volunteer who had encouraged people to sign a pledge declaring they taken a phone call in the office. Margaret Thatcher had

6 the Friend, 11 November 2016 White poppies for Wales. Hedd is the Welsh word for peace. Photo courtesy of the Peace Pledge Union. Photo courtesy of the Peace just expressed her ‘deep distaste’ for the White Poppy. The PPU has this year identified three main messages The phones were soon ringing repeatedly and the staff behind White Poppies. First, remembrance for all meeting was abandoned. victims of war of all nationalities. Second, commitment Following Thatcher’s remarks, the Daily Star launched to peace. Third, rejection of militarism. a ‘Don’t buy the White Poppy’ campaign. ‘An insult to The British Legion are explicit in arguing that our war dead,’ declared the headline of one editorial. Remembrance should concern only armed forces Between them, Thatcher and the Daily Star gave White personnel from the UK and allied states. I respect many Poppies far more publicity than they had received since Red Poppy wearers who reject this approach, insisting the 1930s. The PPU sold out of White Poppies just that they want to remember all people killed or injured before Remembrance Day, reaching the highest sales in war. We are, therefore, keen to distinguish between figures since the 1930s. Red Poppy wearers and the British Legion itself.

A steady rise in sales Learning from the past

The following years saw a steady rise in White Poppy While the Legion does some good work supporting sales, helped in the early by the rise in online wounded , they promote a pro-war view of the ordering and public anger over the . Not long world, repeatedly stating that British troops killed in afterwards there was a marked change of tone in the war all died ‘for our freedom’ and encouraging support ’s language around Red Poppies. for ‘our’ armed forces. They also accept considerable The Legion’s advertisements talked less about ‘the fallen’ donations from arms companies. This is a long way and more about ‘supporting our armed forces’. Red from ‘never again’. Poppy wearers turned off by this language looked for The rise in White Poppy orders over the last three an alternative. Combined with the publicity around the years has put considerable strain on the PPU’s small centenary of world war one, this pushed White Poppy team of staff and volunteers. Our distribution systems sales to 99,000 in 2014 and 110,000 in 2015. are designed for a much smaller operation and we We do not yet know the overall figure for this year, have become victims of our own success, repeatedly although we have seen the biggest ever single order: apologising to people who are waiting a long time for 20,000 poppies to the Quaker Centre Bookshop at Friends their poppies to arrive. We are, therefore, planning to House. However, as my colleague Jan Melichar puts it, overhaul our systems for next year. We will start working the PPU is not a florist. High sales figures would mean on it not long after this year’s Remembrance Day. nothing without the message behind White Poppies. The White Poppy is sometimes misrepresented as There are many reasons people choose to wear White anti-Remembrance. This is outrageously untrue. It is Poppies. Those who do so range from people in their a Remembrance poppy. To remember the past is not nineties who were conscientious objectors in world war simply to acknowledge it but to learn from it. And those two to young people who sell White Poppies in their who do not learn from their past are condemned to schools. ‘White Poppies are now needed more than ever repeat it. to provide a non-militaristic way to remember,’ says Jay Sutherland, a sixteen year old running the White Poppy appeal in Ayrshire. Symon is coordinator of the Peace Pledge Union.

the Friend, 11 November 2016 7 Letters All views expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the Friend

Quaker faith & practice in prison commentators identify this as a factor in the How wonderful at Wayland Prison (Norfolk) on Brexit vote and the popularity of Donald Trump. Saturday to see a group of prisoners arriving for Meet- Globalisation is not evil per se: it is the way in which ing for Worship, each bringing with them their own the benefits are seized disproportionally by the copy of Quaker faith & practice (Qf&p) and two of them powerful which is the evil. Might Friends widen our choosing to read out a passage that spoke to them. What Living Wage campaign into a ‘Fair Pay’ campaign? a treasure it is and so moving to see Qf&p being valued, And, essential to make it effective, take it up in affirmed and bringing comfort, inspiration, nurture and tandem with Friends in the ? hope to those in need. Thank God for Qf&p! John Asher David L Saunders Settle Meeting, North Yorkshire Wells-next-the-Sea Meeting, Norfolk I fully support the views in the article from Lancaster Membership means ‘Holding the roof up’ Friends. This would be a great step forward. I am an ex-attender who finally applied to join the More radical is the concept of a citizens’ income, Religious Society of Friends in 1986 because there was which I am sure is familiar to many Friends. Every no Meeting for Worship in Kuala Lumpur, and having adult would automatically be paid an income that is heard of two unknown other ‘enquirers’ heading for enough to live on. There would be additional incomes Malaysia, decided to join and start a Meeting. for children, paid to the parents. This would mean that Thirty years later I would still tie membership to there was no need for benefits (apart, perhaps for special the existence of the Local Meeting (and Area Meeting needs payments) and the complexity and heartache and Britain ), rather than issues of that these can bring. We would need to find alternative personal spirituality. I’m currently taking my turn as employment for a large number of civil servants! an elder, and thus feel moved to write and tell you my Those who had no work would still have dignity. conception of membership’s essential meaning, having Those who chose could pursue non-paid interests, read Richard Hankin’s article (14 October). such as arts or sport. Those in work would be given a Membership is a commitment to spend time and lower salary and the difference would be paid by the effort ‘Holding the Roof Up’ by being part of the employers into the fund that paid the citizens’ income. Quaker community that maintains the Meeting for Daphne Wassermann Worship, both physically (the building) and in worship 51 Westbourne Gardens, Glasgow G12 9XF (the Meeting community), and in organisation (avoiding a hierarchy developing). My local Ditchling The simplified Meeting Meeting definitely keeps me in ‘loving survival’ against Albert Schweitzer in The Philosophy of Civilisation: a too-busy and complicated life. Thank you, Friends! The Decay and the Restoration of Civilisation has this Judy Moody-Stuart to say: ‘Political, religious and economic associations Ditchling Meeting, East Sussex aim today at forming themselves in such a way as will combine the greatest possible inner cohesion The Living Wage with the highest possible degree of external activity. Friends in Lancaster have done great service in Constitution, discipline, and everything that belongs promoting The Living Wage (28 October). How is the to administration are brought to a perfection hitherto Living Wage to be financed? From a moral point of unknown. They attain their object, but just in view that question is irrelevant – every worker should proportion as they do so these centres of activity cease be paid a living wage. Many employers report that it is to work as living organisations, and come more and self-financing through better motivation. more to resemble perfected machines. Their inner life There is another part of the wage discussion that loses in richness and variety because the personalities seems to have gone quiet recently – the excessive of which they are composed must needs become salaries taken by those at the top of the pile. Why, in impoverished.’ a democracy, do we allow the average FTSE100 CEO , in his book , advises to take £5.5 million a year and top salaries to increase us thus: ‘Our life is frittered away by detail. An honest at double-digit rates? This encourages short-termism man has hardly need to count more than his ten in business (under-investment and bank collapses, for fingers, or in extreme cases he may add his ten toes example), talented workers are drawn into high-pay and lump the rest. Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I companies, house and land prices inflated and the say, let your affairs be two or three, and not a hundred feeling of unfairness is widespread. or a thousand; instead of a million count half a dozen, Much frustration about unfairness is directed and keep your accounts on your thumbnail.’ in an unfocused fashion at ‘the elites’ and many In mainstream churches administration is carried out

8 the Friend, 11 November 2016 [email protected]

by a few willing, paid clergy and volunteer lay-people form a community? For example, what is the common who are temperamentally suited to those tasks freeing cause between asexual and bisexual people – or between up the rest to work out in what way their own inner lesbian women and gay men, for that matter? lives shall flourish and lead to quietly virtuous activity. Doubtless all oppressed people have something Peter Hancock in common. After all, impoverished people, ‘ethnic [email protected] minorities’, disabled people and old people – not to mention women – all suffer negative discrimination of Desire, spiritual pain and freedom one kind or another. I am (relatively) male, old, deaf, There are two points concerning Noel Staples’ article white and wealthy: should I specially identify with any (21 October) that I would like to make. of these minorities – in the sense of empathising with First, his article ended: ‘Perhaps in being sustained and fostering their collective interest? in love we most nearly achieve true freedom. What do Philip Kestelman you think?’ 1 Chalcroft Road, London SE13 5RE Recently, I was fortunate enough to attend a one day course led by Noel Staples in which he had shaped Meeting and reading the content of his article into a format for group For several weeks, in more than one Meeting for discussion and meditation. It was a day ‘ruled by love’ Worship that I have attended, I have been aware and I felt I was in a ‘truly free society’ – one which of a growing tendency to use the silence to ‘catch gave one ‘the courage to be’ and encouraged growth, up with reading’. I have also realised that attenders fully in accord with John Macmurray’s observation. and newcomers (and seasoned Friends who should Second, Noel stated: ‘The opposite of spiritual pain know better) have no idea why this should be seen as is pleasure.’ Is it, I wonder? Might not ‘joy’ be more more disruptive than children or traffic outside. So, I appropriate? I associate ‘pleasure’ with a delicious wondered whether it might strike a chord, and perhaps Italian ice cream on a sweltering day; my head hitting discussion, among your readers? the pillow with a prolonged, grateful gasp at the end Barbara Pensom of a full day and so on. To me ‘joy’ carries with it Charlbury Meeting, Oxfordshire an element of spiritual struggle and pain and when Christopher Shakespeare one comes victoriously through this the emotion Having read Malcolm Elliott’s carefully argued is deeper by far than that of pleasure. In Wagner’s polemic, Christopher Shakespeare: The Man Behind ‘Pilgrim’s Chorus’ we hear initially of all the pain and the Plays, and never having previously considered suffering of the first stages of the journey; and then seriously the authenticity of Shakespeare’s oeuvre, I how those feelings finally, after coming through their was intrigued to discover that I did, indeed, find room trials, give way to joy. Wagner communicates this so for doubt – despite the dates of Marlowe’s death and wonderfully with loud cascading violins over a full the publication of Shakespeare’s later play being at orchestra, conveying, as words never could, the relief, odds. A recommended read! exultation and sheer ‘joy’ of the moment. The word Jean Harbour ‘pleasure’ would sound to me so thin, lightweight and Leicester Meeting, Leicestershire inappropriate in that context. John Flory Oundle Meeting, Northamptonshire In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, Not quite the whole keyboard! in all things charity. I have been pondering two related letters: one by Roy Vickery (26 August) on LGBT terminology, which rightly noted that the language of gender and sexuality The Friend welcomes your views. is evolving rapidly, and another by Abigail Maxwell (23 September), who mentioned her ‘gender-queer’ Friend Do keep letters short (maximum 250 words). suggesting the word ‘Other’ for people identifying themselves as neither men nor women. Please include your full postal address, even LGBT means Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender; when sending emails, and specify whether you and, nowadays, LGBT+ involves at least three additional wish for your postal or email address or Meeting categories: Intersexual; Questioning (of any fixed name to be used with your name. gender identity or sexual orientation – ‘Queer’ is already covered); and Asexual and/or Autosexual (LGBTQIA). Letters are published at the editor’s discretion and may be edited. The potential list is endless: yet how do all these people

the Friend, 11 November 2016 9 Remembrance

The Scillin tragedy

Many men who were conscientious objectors refused to join the forces in the second world war. Others signed up and, later in life, became Quakers. Their Quakerism often grew from a personal experience of conflict.

Ernest Hall writes about a little known tragedy and reflects on the futility of war

t was in the winter of 1942/43 when I first heard country. Signed, Guiseppe Ferrari, Colonel of Cavalry.’ I a rumour that a British submarine had torpedoed wondered whether that would have eased the pain of his a vessel transporting British and Commonwealth nearest and dearest in England, if they could have seen Iprisoners of war from Libya to Italy with heavy casualties. it – which, of course, they couldn’t! I didn’t pay much attention. The rumour probably wasn’t true – most prison-camp rumours weren’t. In any case, I Italy surrendered to the allies. We were transported was much more concerned with my own survival. to Germany in cattle trucks. I was very fortunate in being sent with a party of thirty British POWs to a I was one of about 5,000 British prisoners of war working camp (Arbeitskommando) in Zittau, a small (POWs) in a large concentration camp near Carpi in town where the frontiers of Germany, Poland and the northern Italy. We were housed in jerry-built unheated Czech Republic now coincide. We were better housed huts with walls less than six inches thick. They were and better fed than we had been in Italy and the unbearably hot during the summer months and freezing Red Cross parcels arrived regularly. Our guards were cold during the winter. Our daily ration of food was wounded or frostbitten veterans of the Eastern Front a mugful of watery tomato-and-rice soup plus a tiny and were neither the sadistic bullies nor the brainwashed maize-bread loaf (scarcely larger than a bread roll) automatons of fiction and, sadly, sometimes, experience. shared between two. Red Cross food parcels – biscuits, We were expected to work hard (mostly loading and tins of meat or fish, powdered milk, honey or jam – kept unloading railway trucks but we could be given any us alive. To this day, some seventy years later, I never work requiring brawn rather than brain). We had a large refuse an appeal from the British Red Cross Society! We degree of freedom while we worked. We soon picked up were each supposed to get one every week but we often enough very ungrammatical German to converse freely went for weeks without: ‘They’re at the station. We can’t with German civilians and allied POWs and civilians, get the transport to bring them to the camp’. pressed or volunteers (mostly Russians and Ukrainians), who were our fellow-workers. I learned enough Russian We were cold. We were hungry. We were louse to help me hitchhike my way through Soviet-occupied infested. At least once every week there was a notice Czechoslovakia when the war ended. I have spoken to a on the camp notice board announcing that a prisoner number of returned POWs and realise that a great many had died, usually of a hunger-related cause. The notice had experiences in German POW camps that were very always carried a note from the camp commandant: different and much more unpleasant than mine. Perhaps ‘Great honour to the soldier who has given his life for his I was just lucky.

10 the Friend, 11 November 2016 I survived, and thought little more about my transported to prison camps in Italy. The Italians would experiences during world war two for half a century. have crammed even more on board had it not been for Then, in the 1990s, I was contacted by two Ipswich the determined protests of a British medical officer who ladies whose fathers, now deceased, had served in the was among the prisoners. Fifty of those prisoners on the same regiment as me (67th Medium Regiment RA). I Scillin were from my regiment. I didn’t know them all hadn’t known their fathers, but I was able to tell them but I did know several of them well. a little of the few weeks of almost continuous combat that had ended with our being part of the garrison of Ten miles off the Libyan coast the Scillin was Tobruk, and of being overwhelmed by the tanks of intercepted by the Sahib, a British submarine, whose Erwin Rommel’s Afrikakorps on 20 June 1942. The captain believed it to be loaded with Italian troops. following morning we had been ordered by Hendrik The Scillin ignored warning shots from the Sahib, Klopper, the South African officer who commanded the which then fired a torpedo that struck the vessel’s Tobruk garrison, to burn our vehicles, put our guns out engine room and sank it. The captain and crew of of action and surrender. the Scillin and twenty-seven of the prisoners were rescued. Seven hundred and eighty-three prisoners, I think that I learned more from those two ladies including the fifty from my regiment, died. I can only than they learned from me. They supplied me with a hope that the exploding torpedo killed them all. The complete list of the 67th Medium Regiment RA’s fatal thought of being trapped and drowning in the hold of casualties – 100 in all out of a regiment of less than a slowly sinking vessel haunts my nightmares! What I 1,000 men. Ten per cent – a pretty high proportion for find unforgiveable is that this tragedy need not have a mobile artillery regiment that had been in combat for happened. British submarine commanders operating little more than six months in all. The figure seemed in the Mediterranean could have been told by their even more extraordinary when it was discovered that Egyptian naval HQ which vessels leaving Libyan ports many more fatal casualties occurred after the regiment were carrying POWs and which were carrying German had surrendered than in battle. Some had died in the or Italian troops; but that might have revealed to the epidemics of dysentery and diphtheria that swept enemy that British code-breakers had intercepted their through the POW camps in Libya after I had been radio messages and broken the codes in which they transported to Italy. Some died – I knew a few of them were sent! – of starvation related illness in POW camps in Italy. I think it unlikely that any British prisoners of war It was not until 1996 – fifty-four years later – that died of starvation in Germany. Unlike Soviet prisoners the facts of the sinking of the Scillin were made public. of war and the Jews, Gypsies and political dissidents Prior to that date enquiries from relatives had been told starving to death in concentration camps run by the SS, that their soldier sons/husbands/boy-friends had died we did enjoy the protection of the Geneva Convention. in Italian POW camps (certainly a plausible lie) or had The Germans took that seriously – there were many been lost at sea (almost the truth). German POWs in British camps! They shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old. There were fatal accidents though. A fellow POW Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. (it could have been me) died when a runaway truck At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, on Zittau’s railway sidings crushed him. He was given We will remember them! a military funeral with a firing squad from the local German army barracks firing a volley over his grave. Those words from Laurence Binyon’s poem ‘To Some died in forced marches from prison camps in the Fallen’ will be repeated thousands of times on eastern Poland during the bitter winter of 1944/1945. . They almost make it sound The Germans marched them to Germany to prevent as though the fallen have been rewarded. I have little their liberation by the ever-advancing Soviet Army. doubt that every one of those 100 casualties from the Fifty of my comrades though – most of them, like me, 67th Medium Regiment would have gladly endured volunteers from East Suffolk aged between twenty- growing old, the weariness of advancing age and the one and thirty – died from ‘friendly fire’. By the end ‘condemnation of the years’ (whatever that means) in of the first week in November 1942 the German and exchange for the fifty, sixty or seventy remaining years Italian armies had been defeated at El Alamein and of life that they would normally have expected – had were withdrawing westward across Libya. To prevent they been given the choice! their liberation by allied forces some 800 British and South African POWs from prison camps in Tripoli were crammed onto the Scillin, an Italian cargo ship, to be Ernest is a member of Clacton-on-Sea Meeting.

the Friend, 11 November 2016 11 Simplicity

A personal response

In the last of her series, Anne de Gruchy reflects on her time studying Simplicity as a 2016 Eva Koch Scholar at Woodbrooke

he leading to explore simplicity was there in the participants. Many Friends expressed gratitude for my life long before I knew about the existence the opportunity to talk about what simplicity meant to of the Eva Koch scholarships at Woodbrooke them and felt that it helped address issues they were TQuaker Study Centre. A few years ago my uncle left exploring in their lives. The openness and honesty me an inheritance; a generous amount that allowed me people entrusted me with has really moved me. I hope to buy myself a new house and rent out the one I had this process of transformation will continue through been living in. Although this sounds wonderful, I am into the workshops I am developing. As one Friend a Quakerly type and I began to feel uncomfortable at said, the testimony of simplicity at an individual level is having so much whilst others had so little. I began to about ‘having relationships that are less distorted’ and think about simplicity. at a wider level ‘it’s about seeing society as it really is without the kind of prejudices we normally bring’. Simplicity is a testimony that on the surface is easy, but which has great depths underneath. As soon as I To some extent I can list the things I hope to take began to talk to people and to read more widely on the away as a result of my time looking at the testimony of subject, it plunged me into a much wider exploration simplicity. These include the intention to: into the spiritual roots of my unease. I began to understand better the links between spiritual and • Focus on quality not quantity and to do this through material simplicity, and to realize that the questions I a process of discernment, following the leadings that needed to ask were not simply about whether to give God gives me. Not being afraid to let go of other away some of my material resources or change my activities in my life. lifestyle – I needed to spend more time listening to • Make the time I have with people count: listening, God. As Harvey Gillman said in A Light that is Shining: giving attention, engagement. Relationships and Introduction to the Quakers: ‘Life cannot be separated community matter. into categories of “sacred” and “secular”’. • Make more time for God! This may involve deleting the app from my phone! After posting a couple of blog entries about simplicity, • Not look too far ahead – focus on current activities I spotted a Quaker acquaintance’s Facebook link to the and trust in God for future direction. Eva Koch scholarships. ‘Is this for you?’ she asked. So • Continue my commitment to regular meditation/ here I am, sitting in the sunshine in the Woodbrooke centering prayer. gardens, reflecting on what this period of research has • Reduce the things that I own and simplify my meant to me. financial arrangements, but letting this arise naturally from an internal spiritual discipline. My research has included conducting interviews with twenty-six people. This has been a privilege and a joy. This is all good, but I am aware that once I’m back at Perhaps it is the unexpected ‘outcome’ of my work – that home I am likely to let my headspace get out of control the connections and insights arising from the interviews again and to overthink the way forward. It reminds me had an intrinsic value for me, and also, it appeared, for of an analogy given by one of the interview participants:

12 the Friend, 11 November 2016 I also responded to the idea that speaking truth is a manifestation of simplicity. The lake at Woodbrooke. Photo: Trish Carn. Trish Photo: Woodbrooke. at lake The the image of a snowglobe – ‘if you live a simple life silence as a hermit in a tiny hut on the Llyn Peninsula those snowflakes aren’t bubbling around… It’s kind of in North Wales. She clearly evokes the draw of the Quakerish… the Light can shine through,’ she said. coastline and its islands to monks and hermits across the ages, and describes her lifestyle and the landscape Another tool I have been given is the possibility of around her with a deep humanity and spirituality. moving away from words as a means of communication and knowing people. While I was at Woodbrooke I Schiller says that as a result of her eremitic life ‘the joined a ‘Dance of Connection’ course. We danced the artificial barrier between outer and inner begins to ‘5Rhythms’ as developed by Gabrielle Roth – a form of dissolve in an ordinary, everyday sense, bringing a dance that is intensely linked to our inner selves and deeper awareness of unity. Life simplifies’. Yet it is not freeing ourselves to expression and change. We got to the idea of an isolated or simple lifestyle that speaks know each other so intimately and quickly through to me in this book, it is the way Verena describes the dancing together, and it was hard to return to a world leadings that brought her to this lifestyle from her of speech and words afterwards. Somehow this felt community of nuns, and also the way she is later led to like a simpler way of knowing people than making change her anchorage to one nearer to a village as she conversation. moves into older age. There is a process going on for her that takes years to come to fruition. She is aware of Typed words also felt inadequate to express the God’s calling to a different way of life but she waits on wonderful variety and depth of the ways participants this for the time to be right. She does not fret or hurry. described simplicity during the interviews. Some of my favourite phrases and words included: ‘whittling to the I suspect that having done this scholarship will be life bare bones’, ‘linear’, ‘beauty’ and being involved only changing, but, like Verena Schiller, I need to ‘sit with’ with things that ‘come out of a centre of stillness, and a the leadings I have and let them mature until the way centre that is held in God’. I also responded to the idea forward is clear. ‘Clarity’ is a word several Friends used that speaking truth is a manifestation of simplicity. In when describing simplicity, and seeking it is necessary the end I represented these artistically, with coloured if any changes I feel led to make are to be successful and lettering and shapes flowing around the central word sustainable. I’m having to hold back the part of me that ‘simplicity’. It was a creative and spiritual process that wants to jump into the unknown – I feel at one with felt at home with the theme of simplicity itself. Henry David Thoreau in Walden when he says: ‘I do not wish to take a cabin passage, but rather go before I have also been given other resources on my journey. the mast and on the deck of the world, for there I could One of these was the recommendation of the book best see the moonlight and the mountains.’ A Simplified Life: A contemporary hermit’s experience of solitude and silence by Verena Schiller. This is a beautiful and evocative book that really spoke to me. Anne is a Woodbrooke 2016 Eva Koch scholar and a It was written by a nun who spent decades living in member of Nottingham Meeting.

the Friend, 11 November 2016 13 Letter from France

Richard Thompson reflects on an interesting year for French Quakers

ots of positive developments in France! At our Autumn continued the liveliness. On 2 October the Yearly Meeting in July at Nantes we studied the Toulouse group arranged a peace conference: Déclarons Foundations of a True Social Order (Quaker faith la Paix. The group was successful in a bid to the Small L& practice 23.16) and shared lots of self-questioning Grants Fund of EMES and invited a range of excellent about what we considered our strong and weak points. speakers. In November we are holding a retreat at We brought and pinned up posters about our activities Congenies on ‘Waking Up’ – ‘Se sentir plus éveillé; in different Quaker groups in France, had lively Comment faire?’ – in worship-sharing mode. Both reports from the Quaker Council for European Affairs, events will be in French but with help for Anglophiles. the Friends World Committee for Consultation’s European and Middle East Section (EMES) and the Quaker United Nations Office in Geneva. We also No, we are not at war against visited the Anti-Slavery Memorial in the centre of Nantes, which includes a statement from Quakers. Islam…We are, of course, This visit was reported in the local press along with a general article about Quakers in France. Our Yearly against these barbaric acts, Meeting sent off a communiqué to the French press and to François Hollande, as follows: but not against Muslims.

‘At their Annual Meeting in Nantes this year, Quakers Another interesting development may result in a in France, having read with dismay the reports of documentary film on French television. A filmmaker the assassination in St-Etienne-du-Rouvray, feel contacted us in spring about his intention to produce a compelled to send you the following message: documentary on the fundamental values of France, like No, we are not at war against Islam. We know Liberty, Equality and Fraternity, aid to victims of war we are going through a very difficult time, facing and peace making. He kept coming across a small group the horrors of Nice and St Etienne du Rouvray. We of people introducing and supporting these values. are, of course, against these barbaric acts, but not Guess who they are! We met him in Paris in April and against Muslims. The vast majority of Muslims are he has read and, especially, . very good neighbours. He wishes to visit 1652 Country, Pennsylvania and, What can we do? It is through small acts of without knowing where we live in the UK, Reading. friendship ... in the supermarket ... on the bus ... in (William Penn retired to nearby Twyford.) our groups, where we can connect with members of other groups. Each act of friendly attention counts. We made an appeal in our Lettre des Amis We should seriously think about what life will be and received interesting references to Quakers like in twenty years for our children if we remain doing invaluable work in what turned out to be locked in hatred. The desire for revenge will not help concentration camps for Spanish refugees in France our children. In his encyclical letter last year, Pope during the 1930’s. Francis spoke of the earth as “our common home”. Let us find the foundations of a true social order! Sylvette and Richard Thompson From Advices & queries no.32: “In what way are Mid-Thames and Languedoc Group of France Yearly you involved in the work of reconciliation between Meeting individuals, groups and nations?”’ Further information: [email protected] or Sylvette Thompson, national secretary www.declaronslapaix.org

14 the Friend, 11 November 2016 Poetry

A sense of belonging

Arriving un-named

Unaccounted for

Learning to survive

To be chameleon

Adopt the colour

of the situation

Imbibe a culture in a place

I must call ‘home’

A sense of belonging

But could it last?

A ‘parentage’ that would not

let me down –

Barbara Tonge Kendal Meeting

Friends in Kendal will be taking part in a civic interfaith event on 15 November. The theme of the gathering, ‘Belonging’, was prompted by a concern over refugees seeking safety, particularly children, and the situation in Calais.

the Friend, 11 November 2016 15 a look at the Quaker world [email protected]

Radio silence An early start

An Eye-reader spied a story about silence in the Church Times (28 October). David Winter, former head of religious broadcasting at the BBC, recalled the first broadcast of Quaker worship of Radio 4 nearly forty years ago: ‘The producer was concerned when they told him that the forty minutes might consist of silence, depending on whether or not members were “moved” to speak. Anxious discussions followed. After all, the transmitter switches off for security reasons if there is a prolonged silence. The answer, we decided, was to place a ticking clock near a microphone. Forty minutes of blessed silence, tick-tock, with the occasional helpful reflection: radio had never been like this before.’ The pages of history

A remarkable discovery was recently made on the shelves of Photo: Daisy Yates. the library at the Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre in Ruth Yates, from Lancashire, Birmingham. shared this snap with Eye. She Betty Hagglund, project explained: ‘This is a picture of my development officer for the first grandson, Wilbur Yates, taken Centre for Postgraduate by his mother, Daisy Yates, who Quaker Studies at Woodbrooke, decided to start educating him on unearthed a book of poetry by his family’s religious beliefs.” John Milton. It is noteworthy for having been given to the Woodbrooke A colourful Settlement, along with other books, by members of the quandary Scarborough Summer Settlement in 1901 ‘in grateful recognition A palette-based computer of the help rendered to them by predicament has perplexed Andrew

Photo courtesy of Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre. Study Quaker Woodbrooke Photo courtesy of John Wilhelm Rowntree’. Jameson, of Malvern Meeting. He shared his vexation with Eye: ‘I use email a lot. When I want Have fun! to remind myself to follow up a particular subject, I right-click and Who can lift your spirits when you’re down? Jill Allum, of Beccles choose a coloured flag to put next Meeting, has an answer: ‘The Tesco delivery man!’ to the message. She told Eye: ‘We had a black week. I’d had what the doctor called a ‘The question is: What colour mini-stroke (TIA), three actually, and, as she does, she sent me straight are Quakers now? There is a choice to hospital for three-and-a-half hours of tests in the Stroke Ward. I was of red, blue, yellow, green, orange squeezed into midday, as an emergency. We could have been the only ones and purple. The advice of weighty there, so much care did they give us. Friends is needed. Please help! ‘So, we were low and then the Tesco delivery came and the jolly driver (Grey is not available)…’ bounced up to the door, talking of “Madness” – our poster for the local show. As he left he said: “Have fun!” ‘Those two words became our slogan for the next few days and couldn’t have cheered us more. We decided to buy a TV after twenty years of doing without! We treated ourselves to a meal out – a rare event. We sparkled and wanted everyone round us to sparkle, too! A light had come on in our lives! (or darkness!).’ Photo: JimmyMac210 / flickr CC.

16 the Friend, 11 November 2016 11 Nov 8/11/16 11:27 Page 7

Friends&Meetings Deaths In memoriam Diary

Barbara GRIFFIN 5 November. Michael J BELL Died 16 November DAILY MEETING FOR WORSHIP Member of Richmond upon Thames 2015. Roundhay and Penrith in the Quaker Centre worship space, Meeting. Aged 88. Enquiries to Meetings, Leighton Park School Old Friends House, 173 Euston Road, [email protected] (clerk). Scholar. My "Michael" - all father, London NW1 2BJ. 12.30-1pm no "step". Clare B Dimyon & family. Monday to Friday until 22 December Anne Jane HEDGER 27 October. then from 4 January. All welcome. Peacefully at home. Widow of Enquiries: Gill Sewell Rupert. Mother of Cathy, Jeremy, Changes to meeting [email protected] Mary and Emily. Member of Wymondham Meeting, formerly of PORTHMADOG MEETING has Harlow Meeting. Aged 85. Memorial now settled its regular Meetings for Meeting up Meeting for Worship 12 noon Worship on the second and fourth Saturday 12 November, Friends Sundays of the month at 11am at Y GENETIC FREAK IN LANCASTER, Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Ganolfan, Porthmadog (ger harbwr 53, with a kind heart, needs an Norwich NR2 1EW. Enquiries to y dref)/Porthmadog Community Esmerelda. Uncertain future needs love of a good woman. Male atten- Mary Hedger: 07878 901688. Centre (near the harbour) LL49 9LU. Enquiries: 01766 530657. der living independently. Vegetarian, non-smoker. Replies please Box 982 c/o The Friend Ad Dept. Memorial meetings WIMBORNE MEETING MOVING from 6 November to: Wimborne VERY ACTIVE QUAKER WOMAN Yvonne Hotham FOX (née Cadbury) Town Hall, 37 West Borough, A Memorial Meeting to celebrate 60 years old, not yet retired, seeks Wimborne Minster BH21 1LT, in a like-minded man for long-term Yvonne's life will be held at ground floor Committee Room. Wellington Meeting House, High romantic relationship. Loves Meeting for Worship Sundays conversation, and is interested in Street, Wellington TA21 8RA, 3pm 10.30am, Meeting for Learning Saturday 12 November. Tea from everything. Lives in the SE. Replies to alternate Thursdays 7.15pm for Box 981 c/o The Friend Ad Dept. 2.30pm. Refreshments afterwards. 7.30pm start. Enquiries: [email protected] / 01823 672131. Friends & Meetings Personal entries (births, marriages, Notices deaths, anniversaries, changes of address, etc.) charged at £27.50 incl. IMPORTANT QUAKER ARTS NETWORK vat for up to 35 words and includes a copy of the magazine. Meeting and 18 & 25 November issues SPRING 2017 EXHIBITION charity notices, (changes of clerk, new Exhibition proposals invited for a wardens, changes to meeting, diary, etc.) Due to annual leave the ad. corridor exhibition at Friends £23.23 zero rated for vat. Max. 35 words. pages for these issues are being House in Spring 2017. Closing date Three entries £55 (£46.46 if zero rated); finalised in our London office. for submissions 2 December 2016. six entries £90 (£75 if zero rated). Entries accepted at editor’s discretion in The [email protected] email For terms of reference see a standard house style. Gentle discipline address is being monitored. www.quakerarts.net or email will be exerted to maintain a simplicity [email protected] of style and wording that excludes terms From 11-21 November only of endearment and words of tribute. please tel. 020 7663 1010. Email: [email protected]

the Friend, 11 November 2016 17 11 Nov 8/11/16 11:27 Page 8

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the Friends Quarterly New issue out now A Quaker testimony on inclusion Will Haire “Just a club?” What is a Church? What is the Religious Society of Friends? Hugh Rock Ancient and Modern: exploring the links between Eastern Orthodoxy and Quaker spirituality Stuart Masters Dying, and living, in the Light Barbara Davey From a deep place: reflections on narrative, action and the Quaker way Gerald Hewitson The issue is free to new subscribers at £20 UK or £22 overseas. Single copies £5 plus 70p UK or £2 overseas postage. Discounted rates for subscribers to The Friend call 020 7663 1178.

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the Friend, 11 November 2016 19 11 Nov 8/11/16 11:27 Page 10 vol ADVERTISEMENT DEPT 174 54a Main Street EDITORIAL Cononley, Keighley 173 Euston Road BD20 8LL London NW1 2BJ No

T 01535 630 230 T 020 7663 1010 46 E [email protected] the Friend E [email protected] Engaging Young Adult Friends Project Officer Salary: £31,407 per annum. Contract: Fixed Term - 3 Years. Hours: Full Time - 35 hours per week. Location: Friends House, Euston Road, London NW1. It’s time to change how young adults feel part of Quakerism in Britain. Have you got an understanding or experience of research, measuring, presenting and implementation? Are you able to inspire others to act? Can you ask the questions that will help Quakers in Britain become more inclusive of young adult Friends? Could you be the person to take this on? This is an opportunity to use your skills to serve Quakers in Britain, an organisation committed to peace, integrity, simplicity, and equality in all its dealings. The visibility and involvement of young adult Friends has been declining in recent decades and this new project will look for ways to reverse that trend. You will be a member of the Ministry and Outreach staff team based in Quaker Life. You will need strong communication skills and be able to work successfully on your own, as part of a small team and by networking within Britain Yearly Meeting and with other organisa- tions, individuals and groups. This is a unique opportunity to demonstrate your ability to lead on a vital and exciting project and make recommendations for the future of this work. Some weekend and evening work is required. Closing date for applications: Monday 21 November 2016 (9am). Interviews: Friday 2 December For further information about Quakers, go to http://www.quaker.org.uk/about-quakers and for details on how to apply, go to www.quaker.org.uk/jobs Britain Yearly Meeting is committed to equality in all its employment practices. Registered charity no. 1127633.