Jailbreak at St Neots Museum: Jailbreak Conscription 1916

It is the 16 November 1916. You and your colleagues are employed by Mr Bartlett, renowned butchers of St Neots. Last week you all received your call up papers to join the Bedfordshire regiment and to prepare to begin military training before travelling to the Western Front in France to serve with His Majesty’s forces.

But you believe it is imperative that the good people of St Neots continue to have a good supply of meat, and without your presence, there will be an acute shortage of slaughtermen and butchers. You have therefore appealed against your conscription into the army and in consequence you have been summoned to St Neots jail, where you will be held for one night before appearing at Huntingdon County Appeal Tribunal before Lord Sandwich and Lieut. Carter representing the Military, who will consider your appeal.

But you know Lord Sandwich’s reputation as someone who will not allow people to avoid military service, as the tribunals have been ordered to be a strict as possible. Therefore, you are determined to escape.