The Wanganui Detention Barracks was one of the toughest conscientious objection prisons of WWI in New Zealand, their aims at the Barracks was to break the will of conscientious objectors.
Here are some examples of cruel treatment that occurred in the Wangauni Detention Barracks. Mr Crampton has been accused on various different charges, including ill-treating and solider and unnecessary force against a solider.
On the 17th of May 1918 William Bertram Donoran accused Crampton of ill treatment, he told a military guard if he would carry a riffle and wear the military uniform, he replied no when asked why he replied with because I am a conscientious objector, he was then sent out to the “slaughter yard”. Donoran was ordered to wear the military pack and did not resit, and a riffle was handcuffed to his wrist. He was then taken out to the slaughter yard and refused to march, so they put a rope around his neck and dragged him around the yard. Donoran was banged up constantly against the wall. He was also verbally abused “I don’t give a dam for a man’s life. I’d just as soon shot him as look at him”. He was ordered to keep his head up and was hit under the chin with a cane; the Corp parameter would punch him with a fist on the back of his neck. During this time Donoran was pulled to the ground and dragged some distance on the ground. On three occasions they poured a bucket of water over his head. He then began to march freely and was still physically abused by being banged up against the wall. Donoran was forced to pack drill for another and to take a cold bath, then order to sleep without a mattress. Donoran had bruises and cuts all over his body with swollen knuckles and scratches on his face.
In May 1918, Allister Beaton accused Crampton of ill treatment of a solider, Beaton was a conscientious objector who was charged with insolence, Beaton was found guilty and ordered to pack drill, and had his mattress rights taken away for two nights. Beaton like the other conscientious objectors refused to wear the uniform so he was forcibly dressed into the military uniform, and declined holding a riffle so one was handcuffed to him. When asked to march he refused and was kicked and pushed, then had a rope fastened around his neck to force him along. When being dragged round the yard he was bumped into every corner, one sergeant ripped out a handful of Beaton’s hair and was punched in the back of the head and neck. Sometimes he fell to the ground and was kicked to quicken his pace. Beaton’s face started bleeding after being constantly shoved up against the wall and wasn’t able to sleep on his right side for 3 weeks after the incident. Sometimes the rope got so tight that it was actually choking him, the next day Beaton did not refuse to drill, he was then ordered to take a cold bath. Beaton considers his ordeal in the yard to be brutal.
May 1918 George Carian accused Crampton of ill treatment of a solider, and using unnecessary force. Carian was verbally abused ad told “I’ll kick your bloody guts in if you come at any of these games here. If you want to commit suicide I’ll give you a barrel of soap to eat or a razor to cut your throat with or a pistol to shoot yourself with". Carian was returning from his bath when he forgot his towel when he asked one of the guards to retrieve his towel a sugar bag was thrown at him “This is good enough for a bastard like you”, he put his clothes on and was then struck in the back of the neck and kicked repeatedly while he was down and “shaky”. One time Carian was drilling and was not drilling to a high enough standard of Corp. Williams, so Carian told him that he was not feeling too well, and went to sit down for a couple of minutes, when he was told to come back to drilling he did so but was then marched into the O.Cs office and charged with being inattentive to drill, he was found guilty and was forced to pack drill again at 12:15
Here are some examples of cruel treatment that occurred in the Wangauni Detention Barracks. Mr Crampton has been accused on various different charges, including ill-treating and solider and unnecessary force against a solider.
On the 17th of May 1918 William Bertram Donoran accused Crampton of ill treatment, he told a military guard if he would carry a riffle and wear the military uniform, he replied no when asked why he replied with because I am a conscientious objector, he was then sent out to the “slaughter yard”. Donoran was ordered to wear the military pack and did not resit, and a riffle was handcuffed to his wrist. He was then taken out to the slaughter yard and refused to march, so they put a rope around his neck and dragged him around the yard. Donoran was banged up constantly against the wall. He was also verbally abused “I don’t give a dam for a man’s life. I’d just as soon shot him as look at him”. He was ordered to keep his head up and was hit under the chin with a cane; the Corp parameter would punch him with a fist on the back of his neck. During this time Donoran was pulled to the ground and dragged some distance on the ground. On three occasions they poured a bucket of water over his head. He then began to march freely and was still physically abused by being banged up against the wall. Donoran was forced to pack drill for another and to take a cold bath, then order to sleep without a mattress. Donoran had bruises and cuts all over his body with swollen knuckles and scratches on his face.
In May 1918, Allister Beaton accused Crampton of ill treatment of a solider, Beaton was a conscientious objector who was charged with insolence, Beaton was found guilty and ordered to pack drill, and had his mattress rights taken away for two nights. Beaton like the other conscientious objectors refused to wear the uniform so he was forcibly dressed into the military uniform, and declined holding a riffle so one was handcuffed to him. When asked to march he refused and was kicked and pushed, then had a rope fastened around his neck to force him along. When being dragged round the yard he was bumped into every corner, one sergeant ripped out a handful of Beaton’s hair and was punched in the back of the head and neck. Sometimes he fell to the ground and was kicked to quicken his pace. Beaton’s face started bleeding after being constantly shoved up against the wall and wasn’t able to sleep on his right side for 3 weeks after the incident. Sometimes the rope got so tight that it was actually choking him, the next day Beaton did not refuse to drill, he was then ordered to take a cold bath. Beaton considers his ordeal in the yard to be brutal.
May 1918 George Carian accused Crampton of ill treatment of a solider, and using unnecessary force. Carian was verbally abused ad told “I’ll kick your bloody guts in if you come at any of these games here. If you want to commit suicide I’ll give you a barrel of soap to eat or a razor to cut your throat with or a pistol to shoot yourself with". Carian was returning from his bath when he forgot his towel when he asked one of the guards to retrieve his towel a sugar bag was thrown at him “This is good enough for a bastard like you”, he put his clothes on and was then struck in the back of the neck and kicked repeatedly while he was down and “shaky”. One time Carian was drilling and was not drilling to a high enough standard of Corp. Williams, so Carian told him that he was not feeling too well, and went to sit down for a couple of minutes, when he was told to come back to drilling he did so but was then marched into the O.Cs office and charged with being inattentive to drill, he was found guilty and was forced to pack drill again at 12:15
