EMMANUEL RIBEIRO – Identities

Emmanuel's Story

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Emmanuel Ribeiro was born in 1882. He was married to Bella and had eight children. He worked as a metal engraver and later opened a greengrocer’s shop. The family attended the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue (now our museum).

In 1916 Emmanuel was conscripted to fight in the British Army in World War One. He refused the service on the grounds that he was a conscientious objector. English law at the time of the war understood conscientious objection to be a religious issue. Pacifists seeking exemption at the military tribunals required a testimonial from a religious minister. This became a difficult issue for Jews, as the Chief Rabbi ruled that there were no specifically Jewish grounds for conscientious objection. Anglo Jewish leadership also wanted to stress the Jewish community’s loyalty to Britain and therefore spoke out against objectors.

Emmanuel was arrested in January 1917, fined, and taken to Bury Barracks. Here he went on hunger strike to protest his treatment. Eight days later he was taken to Lord Derby’s War Hospital in Warrington, still on hunger strike, and was refused visitors. He was on hunger strike for over a year, suffering over 150 incidents of force feeding.

Emmanuel’s case resulted in articles in national newspapers and discussions in the House of Commons, and in June 1917 a petition was sent to the Prime Minister asking for his release. Signatures on the petition included future leader of the Labour Party George Lansbury, polymath Bertrand Russell and non-conscription campaigner Catherine Marshall.

In March 1918 Emmanuel was sentenced to hard labour at Wormwood Scrubs prison. He was eventually released on health grounds in May. His weight by then was just 7 stones.

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Listen to their Story

Emmanuel’s letter to his wife, March 1917

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“I wish you first to know what has transpired up to 5 o’clock Wednesday. Tuesday morning, I resist with all my strength also Monday evening previous. On Tuesday afternoon they change the method, they force a gag into my mouth which causes terrible punishment, then a tube was put in the mouth and forced into the stomach with six men holding me down from moving. On Tuesday evening I was out of bed. I resist and after falling on the ground, they, with all hands holding me on the ground forcibly fed me there. This I say is scandalous. It is not only inhuman but barbarous torture of the worst kind. On Wednesday morning I was gagged and forcibly fed with great pain. Also, when I have gone out of the room, I am continually dragged back and thrown like a dog into the room and the door is held for some time until I get into bed.”

Petition to Prime Minster David Lloyd George, June 1917

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“Emmanuel Ribeiro is now slowly dying under torture of forcible feeding which he has endured in Lord Derby’s War Hospital, Winwick, near Warrington, since January … Mr Ribeiro has held for 15 years the views of a socialist non-resistant, opposed to compulsion of the body or soul, and in accordance with the views which he holds, he has claimed complete exemption from compulsory military service under the Military Service Act, January 1916 …

… instead of granting him complete exemption, as they had the power to do, they instructed him to take up work of national importance. Work of importance to the nation he is eager to do, but his conscience forbids him to undertake it as a conscript; he can only give his service as a free man …

… we submit that by this terrible ordeal this man has proved beyond all possibility of doubt that he is one of the conscientious objectors for which the Military Service Act provides complete exemption … Prolonged forcible feeding steadily leads to death and this man cannot live long if forcible feeding is continued, and it is probable that even if it were to stop now, his health will never be entirely restored …

… we desire to bring before you the position of the wife and children who would have starved but for the chance charity of friends. The wife’s agony of mind and her present helpless condition must, we feel sure, appeal to you.”

See their Pictures

Emmanuel and Bella with their family in their backyard, c.1925. Seated front are David, Emmanuel (with Nettie on his knee), Sadie, Bella (with Esther on her knee), and behind are Elizabeth, Michael, Jean and Elias.

Bella outside the Ribeiro’s greengrocer shop on St James Road, Manchester, 1927.

The Ribeiro petition.