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Wandsworth Prison, London: Where Military Prisoners and Conscientious Objectors were Held

Wandsworth Prison was one of a number of London jails used by the military during World War One.

The prison was divided into separate parts: military and civil.

The military wing would house servicemen convicted of offences such as theft, assault and continued drunkenness.

The prison also held more than one-hundred conscientious objectors who refused to take part in the war on grounds of conscience or religion.

Initially, sentences for conscientious objection were intended as a 鈥渟hort, sharp shock鈥 but some repeat offenders, such as the pianist Frank Merrick would spend almost two years at Wandsworth Prison, in challenging conditions.

Others held at the prison were a number of foreign nationals convicted of spying for Germany and sentenced to death.

Location: Wandsworth Prison, Earlsfield, London SW18 3HS
Image: Wandsworth Prison military staff, courtesy of Stewart McLaughlin

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