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WWII Rebel: First Woman Jailed for Conscience
28 Jul
Summary
- Connie Bolam was the first woman jailed as a conscientious objector.
- She refused conscription and protested against war during WWII.
- Her story connects wartime peace movements to modern protestors.
The series 'Lady on Trial' delves into the stories of women prosecuted throughout history, questioning if their gender was their true crime.
This installment focuses on Connie Bolam, a servant from Newcastle who became the first woman imprisoned for conscientious objection during World War II. Amidst the Blitz, she refused conscription, choosing protest over war and risking her freedom for her beliefs.
Her defiance challenges common perceptions of women's roles during the war, which typically focus on figures like Land Girls or Bletchley Park codebreakers. Bolam's narrative is explored with barrister Audrey Cherryl Mogan and historian Dr. Lyndsey Jenkins, linking her activism to modern-day protestors.
The program highlights a historical thread connecting women who protested for peace in wartime to those demonstrating against global conflicts today, underscoring ongoing struggles for rights and equality.
