Rachel: the pacifist betrayed

My great grandmother, Ada Wells, was an ardent pacifist. 

During World War One she was banned from church, because she would mutter angrily or even shout whenever the war was mentioned in jingoistic prayers or sermons. She was also banned from picture theatres: she couldn’t bear news stories about the war.

Here’s an excerpt from one of her many passionate speeches and articles against war:

That patriotism which would achieve its ends by force is a false and hollow mockery, whose way is by the palpitating anguish and the life-blood of fellow men; by the heart-breaking despair and woe of women; by the torture of little children…

But her own son Stan, the only male in the family, ran away and secretly enlisted in the Navy. He was twice in a ship that was torpedoed, but returned to New Zealand safely. Ada must have had mixed feelings—relieved that he was safe, but profoundly disappointed by his actions.

Photo of Ada Wells from Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved from christchurchcitylibraries.com, 10 March 2013. 

~ Rachel McAlpine