The Courage of a Coward
The White Feather Campaign in WW2
Although the infamous white feather campaign is associated with the First World War, there is evidence that some women resurrected the practice during the Second World War. Even at the time, the practice of handing out white feathers, or anonymously posting to young men and their families, was widely condemned.
One of my son’s favourite programs as a child was “Courage the Cowardly Dog”. It was a lesson in endurance and tenacity, in facing fear and carrying on despite hardships, not with overt acts of bravery, but with those everyday tasks that are no problem for the typical person. None of us know what is going on is somebody’s life. What they are hiding behind the facade of normality.
The life of William Edward Knibb is commemorated on the family grave in Castle Bromwich graveyard. Known as Bill, he was my husband’s Uncle. During WW2, Bill received a white feather. Bill’s brother Harold served in the army. His sister Florence was in the land army. His other sister, Vera, tried to enlist, but was rejected on medical grounds, and instead provided administrative support to the war effort.
Bill, did not obviously serve the war effort. To all intents and purposes he was a fit young man, who others thought should be actively serving his country. But, Bill’s apparently normal life was hiding a secret.
As a young boy, he’d fallen from his bike and hurt his arm. He spent three months in hospital and it was thought that his arm would need to be amputated. His sister Florence recalls:
It was very serious. In those days there was no NHS and you had to pay for whatever treatment you had. Medical knowledge was limited and there was little that could be done when you had an accident as serious as Bill’s. He was in hospital for three months. Despite being in the Saturday Fund, Dad still had to pay for Bill’s treatment. It cost a fortune. Afterwards, Bill was left with very little ability to use his arm. He essentially had no elbow, just bones resting on bones. But he hid it well, and most people were unaware of his difficulties. He did work, but it was never easy for him and he could not have joined the army and held a rifle or played any sort of active role.
During the First World War it was common for men who had been given the White Feather to either kill themselves through shame, or to immediately sign up and face probable death, even if they were suffering from genuine disability, had already fought and been traumatised, or even if they were underage children.
The practice of handing out white feathers was widely condemned during both wars. The government moved to try and protect injured service personnel by issuing the Silver War Badge to those who had been honourably discharged due to wounds or sickness during World War I. The badge, sometimes known as the Discharge Badge, Wound Badge or Services Rendered Badge, was first issued in September 1916, along with an official certificate of entitlement.
The sterling silver lapel badge was intended to be worn in civilian clothes. The badge was to be worn on the right breast while in civilian dress.A very similar award, known as the King’s Badge, was issued in World War II.
