In 1916, Edith became Treasurer of the Friends Service Committee, set up to support Quakers who became conscientious objectors.
[2] In May 1918, the three officers of the Friends Service Committee were prosecuted under the Defence of the Realm Act, charged with publishing a pamphlet titled A Challenge to Militarism without submitting it to the Censor.
In their defence the Friends stated that: Edith Ellis was fined £100 plus 50 guineas costs or three months imprisonment.
[2] In 1919, Edith turned her family home, Wrea Head Hall in Scalby, into a convalescent centre for released conscientious objectors.
[4] In 1948, Edith gave Wrea Head and its contents to the North Riding County Council for the purposes of education.