White Feathers of the First World War

by Rob Atherton

The white feather has completely different symbolic meanings in the US Army if compared to the British Military and armies associated with the former British Empire. In the American armed service, a white feather is a symbol of excellence in combat marksmenship. However, in Britain, the meaning could hardly be more different.

As early as the late 1700s, the white feather has been the symbol of cowardice. Its beginnings come from the realm of cockfighting as birds with any white tail feathers were perceived as substandard fighters. The better gamecocks were selectively bred without white tail feathers.



It grew to become commonplace for ladies in particular to hand white feathers to gentlemen of fighting age they spotted in the street. Plenty of men were so humiliated by being passed a white feather in public, they'd find a local recruiting office and sign up to the military. A large number of were destined merely to stop an enemy bullet.

The act of giving white feathers was so common that a number of the men who were passed them should never have received them. Quite a few men who had been home on leave and strolling the streets in civilian clothes were presented with feathers. Some other undeserving recipients included men who were discharged as a result of injury, were back home recovering from injuries or individuals who were medically unfit to join up.

Most of the women who handed out white feathers were part of a movement referred to as "Order of the White Feather" which had been set up in 1914 to really encourage females to present feathers to young men who had not joined the armed service. Nonetheless, there were those who believed that the ladies were at times rather to keen to hand out feathers to men that shouldn't have been given them.

Yet, one pacifist that refused to fight, had been satisfied with the fact he was given so many feathers. Fenner Brockway was reported to have stated that as a result of refusing to fight in World War I, he had received 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 were reluctant to fight and they were not held in high regard by the community.. Unique version for reprint here: The First World War - White Feathers of The First World War.