Eric Barry Wilfred Chappelow (7 October 1890 – 28 November 1957) was an English poet and conscientious objector during the First World War.

His arrest and harsh treatment during four months of imprisonment garnered support from prominent people in Britain, including Chappelow's connections within the literary community.

At that time, he was serving as a clerk to a London County Council and had been exempted from service in the military during the First World War as a conscientious objector.

A photograph of Chappelow in a barracks yard wearing nothing but a blanket fastened around him with a belt made front page news.

After the war, Chappelow continued writing essays and poetry until his death, and in 1937 was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

[6] Chappelow was "arrested only three and a half hours after the time that he should have presented himself", a point as to which he later complained,[9] and was taken to Kingston Barracks,[8] where he was charged with offences including cowardice and treason.

[10] One account states: He was arrested, taken to an army barracks and told to put on a uniform; when he refused, he was held down, stripped by the guards and forced into khaki.

The guards seized a blanket, strapped it round him, manacled his hands and took him to the orderly room, where a sergeant, ridiculing his appearance, took a photograph of him which found its way into the Daily Sketch.

[7] Chappelow's lawyer argued that he was a civilian, and in a certified occupation as a clerk to a government committee, and that he was "willing to do work of national importance outside the provisions of the Military Service Act".

[3] Chappelow himself wrote to lawyer Charles P. Sanger, a friend of the pacifist Bertrand Russell, giving "a horrifying description of the physical and psychological abuse to which he was subjected".

[6] Russell noted that conscientious objectors, "including Chappelow have always held that there was no objection to national service, provided it was not directly concerned with the war".

[8] British Liberal politician Philip Morrell addressed the matter in the House of Commons, where he "argued that Chappelow was being subjected to mental torture".