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| Name: | Norman Gaudie |
| DOB: | 1888 |
| address: | East Boldon |
| Conflict: | WW1 |
| Service: | Army |
| Rank: | Conscientious Objector |
| Service Record:unknown |
| Story | People fought battles in their own way, sometimes not just for themselves but the greater good of everyone. Even those people sometimes had to pay the ultimate price for their beliefs, one such person who sacrificed himself for his beliefs and others was Norman Gaudie. Norman was 28 and working as an accounts clerk on the North-Eastern Railway when he was called up. The son of a Quaker, he was a pacifist and objected to any form of military service, that would aid the war effort. In March 1916, Gaudie made a claim for total military exemption at a tribunal in East Boldon which was refused.He was then posted to the 2nd Northern Non-Combatant Corps based at Richmond Castle where he became one of the Richmond Sixteen.
On May 29 1916, the Richmond Sixteen were taken from their cells and sent with other conscientious objectors to Henriville military camp, near Boulogne in France where they were given 24 hours to consider if they would follow orders or risk being shot for continuing in their disobedience.
On June 24 1916, the court martial passed a sentence of death but this was commuted to 10 years hard labour under orders from Prime Minister Herbert Asquith.
After returning to the North East he became a director at a sugar manufacturer, and remained a committed pacifist. He died in Boldon in 1955, aged 67.
Source: Read the Full Story on ChronicleLive
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