Ethel Carnie Holdsworth

Overview

Ethel Carnie Holdsworth born Ostwaldthistle, Lancashire, England January 1, 1886 (d. 1962). Socialist, pacifist, union organizer, feminist novelist, and poet. Opposed World War I; promoted resistance to conscription through the British Citizen Party.

Quotations

“There'll be as much to fight here, now it's over, as there was there. . . Till all the wars is over . . . Till everybody's happy . . . Till there isn't one lot allus trampling t'others down under their heels. Till there's real peace. . . There'll be no peace in our time. . . But [it might] happen—if we fight hard—in somebody's time.” (General Belinda, p. 310, 1924)

Meek Pacifism, all negation
Whilst nation made arms against nation,
And hounds of war shouted in wander
For aeroplanes—with blood and thunder.
There walked the Soldier, left unlettered,
With all his ignorance, slave fettered,
For to give him erudition
Would bring the menace of sedition.”

("The Carnival of State”, 1923; photo Reading Univ.)