48 Birthday card and paper doll chain

Harry Rhodes was a conscientious objector on the grounds of his Quaker beliefs. His letters, pencilled notes and diaries describe his experiences between March 1916 and March 1919. He explains how he left his call-up papers unanswered, and was waiting at home when he was arrested, packing only his night-school books. He was taken to the guard room of the barracks at Doncaster, but following his refusal to obey orders, he was eventually sent to prison. Over the next few years he experienced what he describes as the ‘cat-and-mouse’ system – at the end of his sentence he was returned to the Army, rather than his family, once again refused to obey orders, and was re-imprisoned. This birthday card was sent to Rhodes from the anonymous ‘O.C’, possibly from Armley Prison. The enclosed delicate chain of cut-out convict figures is made from toilet paper. The men, in detailed uniforms, bear the words "United we Stand. Divided we Fall".