By Philip Sedgwick

A NEW novel is based on the story of a group of conscientious objectors imprisoned at Richmond Castle who faced the death penalty.

While studying for a degree at Ripon College, Hazel Townesend was given a project on resistance to complete and decided the conscientious objectors of the First World War would be a suitable subject to study.

She explained: "While doing my research I came across the Richmond 16. I did know of them but I began to take a closer look at their story and their connection with the castle at Richmond.

“As a Quaker myself, I have some sympathy with them, and I realised that there was a story to tell.”

The men, conscientious objectors mostly from Yorkshire and the North-East, were imprisoned during the First World War at Richmond Castle.

When it was clear insufficient men were volunteering to fight, the Military Service Act was introduced which required most men to register for the Army or Royal Navy.

While most complied, some registered, but refused to fight, enlisting into the non-combatant corps. Others refused to register, and were deemed absolutist conscientious objectors. The Richmond 16 were such a group of men.

Eventually, they were sent to the Western Front and sentenced to death. Although this was never carried out for fear of martyrdom, they were given long periods of imprisonment.

Now after nearly 15 years, Ms Townesend has finally completed her book – I Will Not Kill.

She said: “The book is a novel and through my research it emerged that the name of one of the 16 was never known. This was a gift for my story so I named him Joseph Metcalf.

“As a former nurse, I put in the love interest – a nurse.”

l I Will Not Kill is available from Castle Hill Books in Richmond and the Swaledale Museum, Reeth, priced £9.99, or as a Kindle book.