The white feather has different symbolic meanings in the American Military if compared to the British Army and armies linked to the former British Empire. In the American armed service, a white feather is a sign of excellence in combat marksmenship. However, in Britain, the meaning couldn't be more different.
Since the late 18th century, the white feather was the mark of cowardice. It's beginnings come from the world of cockfighting as birds with any white tail feathers were thought of as inferior fighters. The better gamecocks were selectively bred without white tail feathers.
It grew to become normal for women in particular to hand white feathers to gentlemen of fighting age they came across on the street. The majority of men were so ashamed by being presented with a white feather in public, they'd look for a local recruiting office and sign up for the military. Lots of were destined only to stop an enemy round.
The act of presenting white feathers was so widespread that a number of the men who were handed them shouldn't have received them. Quite a few men who had been home on leave and strolling the streets in civilian clothes would be given feathers. Other undeserving recipients included men who had been discharged due to injury, were back home recovering from injuries or people who were clinically not fit to enlist.
Many of the women who gave feathers were part of a movement referred to as "Order of the White Feather" which had been set up in 1914 to really encourage women to give feathers to men who had not joined the armed service. Nevertheless, there were those that thought that the women were sometimes somewhat to willing to give out feathers to men who shouldn't have been given them.
Having said that, one pacifist who refused to fight, was pleased with the fact he was given so many feathers. Fenner Brockway was claimed to have said that as a result of refusing to fight in The First World War, he'd been given ample white feathers to make a fan.
Since the late 18th century, the white feather was the mark of cowardice. It's beginnings come from the world of cockfighting as birds with any white tail feathers were thought of as inferior fighters. The better gamecocks were selectively bred without white tail feathers.
It grew to become normal for women in particular to hand white feathers to gentlemen of fighting age they came across on the street. The majority of men were so ashamed by being presented with a white feather in public, they'd look for a local recruiting office and sign up for the military. Lots of were destined only to stop an enemy round.
The act of presenting white feathers was so widespread that a number of the men who were handed them shouldn't have received them. Quite a few men who had been home on leave and strolling the streets in civilian clothes would be given feathers. Other undeserving recipients included men who had been discharged due to injury, were back home recovering from injuries or people who were clinically not fit to enlist.
Many of the women who gave feathers were part of a movement referred to as "Order of the White Feather" which had been set up in 1914 to really encourage women to give feathers to men who had not joined the armed service. Nevertheless, there were those that thought that the women were sometimes somewhat to willing to give out feathers to men who shouldn't have been given them.
Having said that, one pacifist who refused to fight, was pleased with the fact he was given so many feathers. Fenner Brockway was claimed to have said that as a result of refusing to fight in The First World War, he'd been given ample white feathers to make a fan.
About the Author:
Between 1914-1918, World War I raged and many young men couldn't wait to enlist in the army. However, a few refused to fight and they were not held in high regard by the community.
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