Lives in Cricket No 52 - Schooled in Cricket (2nd edition)

46 Chapter Six Saying no to war: a devout and principled man becomes a conscientious objector Johnny received a small retainer from Somerset during the early years of the war even though all first class cricket was suspended but this created in him a loyalty to his adopted county, which – plus the offer of a contract after the war finished – contributed to him eventually refusing the chance to go back to his native county. Heroism manifests itself in different ways with different individuals. While Hedley Verity – a man who Lawrence knew well and much admired – went to war against Hitler’s Germany and was tragically killed, Johnny Lawrence showed his heroism in a markedly different way – by being true to his values and choosing not to enlist – and in doing so risking the possibility of imprisonment. That must have been every bit as difficult and courageous as choosing to fight for those whose conscience took then in that direction – given the social approbation that conscientious objectors would regularly face. In addition, conscientious objectors had to satisfy the courts that they were genuine cases rather than cowards or malingerers and risked going to prison if their pleas were not accepted. One source told me that Johnny did go to prison but this seems not to be the case. He certainly supported his fellows in non-military ways and proceeded to accept a directive to work for the Forestry Commission and also to join an air raid precautions demolition squad in addition to working at home as a master joiner. Johnny’s good friend Miles Coope was also a conscientious objector and also worked in the Forestry Commission and Johnny; and Miles would help Sam, Johnny’s brother who now had a haulage business with deliveries of supplies to farmers at this time.