King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

Second World War - Non-Combatant Corps, Lancaster

Whilst the Non-Combatant Corps has no direct connection with the King's Own Royal Regiment this photograph was acquired as it features a group of 'soldiers' of the NCC in Lancaster, photographed in front of the Ashton Memorial in Williamson's Park.  Members of the Non-Combatant Corps were based in Lancaster during the Second World War.
Of the many thousands who made a conscientious objection to military service nearly 7000 served with the Non-Combatant Corps in the Second World War.  The NCC was divided into 14 companies and personnel were involved in projects "not involving the handling of military material of an aggressive nature."  Nearly 500 members of the NCC worked in bomb disposal.
 

"Brothers stationed at Lancaster, April 1944."
Rear row, left to right: A Brown, Langley Green; J Clark, Rushden; H Collins, Ventnor; W C Daniels, Clacton on Sea; L Bellamy, Enfield; D Steven, Glasgow; M Allan, Edinburgh.
Fourth row, left to right: N Ferguson, St. Andrews; R Francis, Peterborough; R Biggs, Barnet; W Pridham, Stroud; D Wheatcroft, Birmingham; W Brown, Nottingham; G Latimer, St. Albans; E Boyes, Southend; J Trudgett, Stowmarket; E Woodford, Woking; D Packer, Leeds.
Third row, left to right; T Ellis, Chorley; L Grainge, Penge; A J Brown, Crouch End; C Butcher, Portsmouth; K Swadling, Birkenhead; R Blake, Newport, Isle of Wight; H Hazell, Sunderland; R Allen, Reigate; J Elcock, Hampton; M Layton, Croydon; G Stanton, Rushden; H Dawson, Markinch.
Second row, left to right: F Richardson, Glasgow; H Malcom, Cullen; D Edmunds, High Wycombe; F Fowler, Bexley Heath; P Thompson, Edinburgh; J Buchan, Peterhead; D Gregory, Studley; S Saunders, Hornchurch; J Pannell, Eastleigh; J Darton, Plymouth; R Denny, Biggleswade; E Gent, Rushden; R Hanley, Motherwell.
Seated, front row, left to right: J Simpson, Bolton; R Broadfoot, Glasgow; A Labett, St. Leonards; R Frost, Midsomer Norton; G Darley, Enfield; B Bailey, Romford; T Palmer, Glasgow; H Buckley, Bolton; J Beattie, Selsden; S Hollands, Glasgow; B Purdon, Croydon; F Davis, Horsmonden; A Byne, London; G Barratt, Ryde; R Walker, Leicester.
Accession Number: KO2839/24