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Experiences of the Great War

The Conscientious Objector

Thomas Hannan (around 1879-1941) was born in Maryhill, Lanarkshire. He was the son of William Hannan — who made cabinets and chairs — and Ellen McFarlane, and was the eldest of their seven children.

Thomas remained in the family home until he was in his 20s, and was employed in an industrial role as a cigarette machine operator.

Thomas was against the First World War from the outset. As part of a minority of like-minded men across Britain, he found that his moral objections set him against the Government. In 1917 he was arrested, and spent most of the rest of the war in prison.

The papers and photographs here are reproduced with kind permission of Thomas Hannan's family.

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