The shaming of George Samson

1915 Recruitment poster

As George Samson walked in civilian clothes in Carnoustie in October 1915 he was handed a white feather.

Established in 1914 by Admiral Charles Penrose-Fitzgerald but led by suffragettes Emmeline and Christable Pankhurst, the White Feather Campaign was a recruitment drive which used public and ritualised shaming to pressure men to enlist in the war effort.

The symbol of a white feather to denote cowardice or weakness is derived from cockfighting where a white tail feather was seen as a mark of inferior breeding. Thus, young men dressed in civilian uniform would be approached and handed a white feather to suggest that they were cowards for failing to enlist.

Yet Seaman Samson was on his way to a public reception held in his honour for having been awarded a Victoria Cross for gallantry in Gallipoli.

Though deeply unpopular with the public generally, the campaign was deemed a success by the Government and the Pankhursts received both praise and monetary awards for their work.

The horrific humiliation of individuals took no account of whether the man who had been singled out for such treatment had been deemed unfit to serve or whether in fact they were underage. This led to appalling consequences. In November 1914, Robert Greaves, whose disability precluded him from joining the army, received a white feather in the post. Tormented by this, Robert tragically took his own life. His case was not unique.