Will Chamberlain was a journalist on the Daily Citizen, the official newspaper of the Labour Party and Trade Union Congress. In 1914 he joined the newly-formed No-Conscription Fellowship and became its national organising secretary and the first editor of the Fellowship's newspaper, The Tribunal. In May 1916 Chamberlain, with almost the whole national committee, was summoned under the Defence of the Realm Act (DORA) to appear at the London Mansion House for publishing the leaflet 'Repeal the Act' which according to the subpoena contained material prejudicial to the recruitment and discipline of his Majesty's forces. Eight members of the national committee were fined one hundred pounds each. The fines were paid by the Fellowship but most including Chamberlain chose to serve the time in prison.