The Story of Archibald Baxter (WW1)

1917

In 1917, Archibald Baxter was called up for service in the army. While some of the remaining non-enlisters were able to apply for conscientious objector status (giving them exemption from the military) Baxter was not eligible from a legal eye.

He was taken to a training camp for the armed forces, yet he refused to put on a uniform. His brother and another man carried on this notion with him, and another of Baxter's sibling refused to fight or train.

1917

1916

By 1916, army resources had been extinguished heavily. Scores of soldiers had been pronounced dead or missing, and people were wisening up to the fact that most people who went enlisted either didn't return, or returned injured or badly lamed.

A draft, proclaiming that all men 21 - 30 years of age had to join the army, was passed, and thousands more soldiers were sent to the battlefield. Later in the year, this age group was extended to 18-year-olds to 45.

1916

13 December 1881

Archibald Baxter is born to Scottish parents James Baxter and Mary McColl on this day. Despite his parents' overseas descent, Archibald was raised in Otago, New Zealand, with his eight siblings. He had a fairly regular childhood for this time period, going to the village school and working before and after school, until his twelfth birthday. This was when he left school to work full-time on a farm, eventually becoming Head Ploughman at Gladbrook Station.

1881

1889 - 1902

1889 - 1902

This span of three years was the length and duration of the South African War. One of the most important periods of Baxter's life, this was when he decided he was a pacifist.

At the start of this war, Baxter was actually considering volunteering for military service. He changed his mind after hearing a politician's plea for peace in court, and coming to the belief that violence, of any kind, was wrong and should not be justified.

1914

1914, well-known as the beginning of World War 1, was when Archibald Baxter's movements against violence began to truly start. Men from his hometown and nearing villages were beginning to enlist in the army and leave for overseas service.

Jooining the military was not compulsory at this time in the war, so Baxter escaped recruitment at the time. But as troops became sparse and the Allies became in dire need of army ranks, Baxter realised that movement would have to be taken for his beliefs.

1917 - 1918

These years were the height of Archibald Baxter's resistance against violence. Due to his unwillingness to fight the army would frequently punish him and multiple other offenders, including William Little and a few of Baxter's brothers. Punishments found suitabel for Baxter's crimes were whipping and most often, 'Field Punishment No. 1'.

Since this kind of treatment was excessively brutal, even by army standards, a medical examination was needed to carry out this form of discipline. Despite Baxter not passing this test, he was cleared anyway and went ahead to endure 28 days.

1917 - 1918

1918

1918 is famous for marking the end of the First World War. It also gave an end to Baxter's battle against service in the military, as in May of 1918 he was transferred from the training camps to a hospital in England.

After a mental health examination, he was pronounced as ill with menancholia, and as a result, was sent back to his Otago farm in New Zealand.

However, on his return journey to Aotearoa, Baxter was said to be returned to full mental and physical health.

1918

10 August 1970

This was the date of Archibald Baxter's death, more than fifty years after World War 1 ended. Baxter was 88 years old at the time of his death, and was survived by his son, the New ealand poet James K. Baxter (only by two years) and his wife, Jacquie Sturm, who died in 2009.

1970

2022

In my opinion, conscientious objectors should be allowed. For religion, beliefs or whatever reason, if someone truly doesn't want to fight, and is willing to prove their ideas, then they shouldn't have to go.

Since there are no world wars going on currently, conscientious objectors aren't well-known as of today. However, should one break out, no doubt there would be some people who didn't want to fight, no matter what. Though history has been unkind to conscientious objectors in the past, the current government does allow conscientious objectors, and people who don't wish to fight.

2022