During the First World War there were 346 Military executions (this figure includes Commonwealth Troops) by firing squad. Soldiers' executions served a dual purpose, to punish the deserters and to dispel similar ideas in their fellow soldiers'.
Offences under the British Army Act, which resulting in a court martial with a sentence to be shot at dawn included alleged acts of cowardice, desertion, sleeping at post, casting away arms and disobedience.
Those condemned to death usually had their sentences confirmed by Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig on the evening following their court-martial. On the evening before the execution a chaplain would be dispatched to spend the night in the cell with the condemned man. The next morning, at dawn, the execution would take place. Prior to the execution many of the condemned men sometimes drugged with morphia or alcohol.
The firing squad which was usually composed of at least six soldiers. One of their rifles was customarily loaded with a blank round and no soldier could be sure he had fired a fatal shot.
It is recognised today that many of the soldiers who were shot may have been suffered from "shell shock" or "battle fatigue" and were obviously under extreme stress, which resulted in them deserting or other actions. Today these conditions are better known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, which is recognised as an illness.
Non of the executed soldiers would be shot today, the military death penalty was finally outlawed in 1930.
Many of these men proved they were brave by refusing to be blindfolded for their executions. They stared down the barrels of the guns which were about to kill them. That's not cowardice. That's courage.
Britain was not alone in executing its own soldiers during the First World War. The French are thought to have killed about 600 soldiers. The Germans, whose troops outnumbered the British by two to one, shot 48 of their own men, and the Belgians shot 13. However, not one American or Australian soldier was ever executed.
In 2001, 23 executed Canadians were posthumously honoured by their government, and five soldiers killed by New Zealand's military command also recently won a pardon.
Execution Post at Poperinge
At Poperinge New Military cemetery (12 Km west of Ieper, Belgium) there is a record detailing the largest number of men to be executed by the British Army and buried in one place. The reason for this lies in the fact that such disciplinary matters were usually carried out when the battalions were in camp away from the front lines and Poperinge was one of the most important centres for military camps in the British sector.
Worcestershire Regiment men
During the First World War there were 8 soldiers of the Worcestershire Regiment that were shot by firing squad. On the 26th July 1915 five men of the 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment were executed on the ramparts of Ypres in what became the largest single execution by the British during the war. They were originally buried in the Ramparts Cemetery, they were later transferred to other cemeteries in the area.
Details of all Worcestershire Regiment men is shown below:
Private Oliver W. Hodgetts (8662) 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment
He was serving with the 1st Battalion when they arrived in Western Front on the 8th November 1914 fresh from Egypt. Some 5 days later the Battalion took up a defensive position in trenches facing Neuve Chapelle and came under heavy bombardment from the enemy during which 7 men were killed and 25 wounded. During the next 3 days (16th to 19th November 1914) a further 13 men were killed and 27 wounded. During this period Private Hodgetts went missing but on this occasion no action was taken against him.
On the 19th November 1914 the men of the 1st Battalion exhausted climbed out of the trenches frozen and in heavy snow fall made their way back to billets at La Gorgue, six miles away. Next day one man in four suffered with frost-bitten hands or feet and in many cases feet or toes had to be amputated.
On the 9th May 1915 just prior to the attack on Festubert, Hodgetts went missing yet again just as the Battalion prepared to go into action. On the 12th May he reported to a nearby unit and claimed he had sprained his ankle, but when he was examined by the medical officer no injury was discovered. On the 22nd May 1915 he was brought to trial where he was undefended. Hodgetts conduct sheet showed that he had been sentenced to 90 days field punishment on the 1st March 1915. His commanding officer Major George W. St. G. Grogan at the trial described Hodgetts as a worthless fighting soldier who was only intent on saving his own skin. At his court martial Private Hodgetts was found guilty of cowardice. Field Marshal Sir John French confirmed the sentence and Private Hodgetts was shot by firing squad on the 4th June 1915. He was only 20 years of age.
He is buried at Royal Irish Rifles Graveyard, Laventie, Pas de Calais, France (Grave number IV.D.2).
Corporal Ives had only been in France just over a month when on the 15th September 1914 he went absent without permission during the fighting on the Marne. He was already on remand for an earlier offence. Ives managed to avoid capture for 9 months. He was eventually arrested on the 24th June 1915 by an officer of the Army Veterinary Corps. At the time he was wearing civilian clothes.
Ives court martial took place on the 7th July 1915, and in his defence he stated that he had suffered memory loss due to shell fire. Although he was found guilty of desertion and sentenced to death, the members of the court martial recommended mercy on the grounds that he might be telling the truth. However, his sentence of death was confirmed by the Field Marshal and he was shot by firing squad with 4 other deserters from the 3rd Battalion on the ramparts of Ypres on the 26th July 1915. He was 30 years of age.
He was originally buried at the Ramparts Cemetery but was later transferred to the Perth Cemetery (China Wall), Belgium which is 3 Km east of Ypres town centre (Grave number I.G.41). For some strange reason the Commonwealths War Graves Commission shows the date of death incorrectly as the 22nd July 1915. This error may have been made as he was tried and sentenced week before the other men of the 3rd Battalion who were executed the same day.
Private Fellows of Birmingham was a married man with children. At the start of the First World War Ernest Fellows as an ex Worcestershire Regiment soldier was on the Reserve List and as such was called up for service in September 1914. He re-joined his Regiment on the 29th September 1914.
Fellows was sent to France as part of reinforcements for the 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment early in 1915. Private Fellows was a well respected soldier in the Battalion and he had past experience.
Early in June 1915 the 3rd Battalion was holding a line of trenches from the Menin Road on the left to Sanctuary Wood on the right. After 4 days of fighting, on the 9th June 1915 the 3rd Battalion was relieved by the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles. The 3rd Battalion then moved out of the line to Busseboom just east of Poperinghe where they were billeted in bivouac and rested until the 15th June 1915. It was during this rest period that Private Fellows went missing without permission. Following an evening roll call it was discovered that he had gone absent. The Battalion had just received orders that it was to attack enemy trenches at Bellewaerde the following day.
Fellows was apprehended and was tried at a court martial on the 14th July 1915. At his trial he offered no evidence in his defence and was found guilty of desertion and sentenced to death. Fellows was shot by firing squad with 4 other deserters from the 3rd Battalion on the ramparts of Ypres on the 26th July 1915. He was 29 years of age.
He was originally buried at the Ramparts Cemetery but was later transferred to the Perth Cemetery (China Wall), Belgium which is 3 Km east of Ypres town centre (Grave number V.K.13).
Private Robinson of Nechells, Birmingham was a regular soldier with 13 years previous service and had been with the 3rd Battalion since Mons in August 1914. On the 27th June 1915, Private Robinson and Private Alfred Thompson absconded together after they were told that they were to be on night duty in trenches near Hooge. The 3rd Battalion had been in action in this area since 16th June.
On the 5th July 1915 both Private Robinson and Private Thompson were arrested at Abancourt while they were sitting on a train bound for Rouen.
At their court martial in a statement it said that both men were good soldiers, but that it appeared they were suffering from nervous strain at the time they went absent.
Robinson was shot by firing squad with 4 other deserters from the 3rd Battalion on the ramparts of Ypres on the 26th July 1915. He was 31 years of age.
He was originally buried at the Ramparts Cemetery but was later transferred to the Aeroplane Cemetery, Belgium, which is 3.5 Km northeast of Ypres town centre (Grave number II.A.6/7). the grave of Robinson has the following inscription: "In loving memory of my dear son deeply mourned by father mother, sisters and brothers".
Private Thompson of Holloway Head, Birmingham was a regular soldier. He had joined the Battalion at the beginning of November 1914. On the 27th June 1915, Private Alfred Thompson and Private Robinson (see above) absconded together after they were told that they were to be on night duty in trenches near Hooge. The 3rd Battalion had been in action in this area since 16th June.
On the 5th July 1915 both Private Thompson and Private Robinson were arrested at Abancourt while they were sitting on a train bound for Rouen. However, this did not effect the outcome of the trial.
Thompson was shot by firing squad with 4 other deserters from the 3rd Battalion on the ramparts of Ypres on the 26th July 1915. He was 25 years of age.
At their court martial in a statement it said that both men were good soldiers, but that it appeared they were suffering from nervous strain at the time they went absent.
He was originally buried at the Ramparts Cemetery but was later transferred to the Aeroplane Cemetery, Belgium, which is 3.5 Km northeast of Ypres town centre (Grave number II.A.8).
Private Hartnells was a regular soldier who had landed in France with the B.E.F. on the 12th August 1914.
Hartnells was shot by firing squad with 4 other deserters from the 3rd Battalion on the ramparts of Ypres on the 26th July 1915. He was 32 years of age.
He was originally buried at the Ramparts Cemetery but was later transferred to the Aeroplane Cemetery, Belgium which is 3.5 Km northeast of Ypres town centre (Grave number II.A.6/7).
Sergeant J. T. Wall of Bockleton, near Tenbury, Worcestershire had enlisted in the Worcestershire Regiment in 1912 and served on the Western Front from the beginning of the First World War. When he arrived in France with the 3rd Battalion on the 12th August 1914, his rank was that of a Lance-Corporal. He had fought with his Battalion in every engagement and was promoted to Sergeant.
In August 1917 the 3rd Battalion was in action near the Bellwarde Ridge, when Sergeant Wall went missing during the attack. This was unlike him and it could have been that he was suffering from "battle fatigue" which affected his mental state. Unfortunately, this was not considered at his trial.
On the 6th September 1917, Sergeant Wall was executed by firing squad, for desertion, at Poperinghe. He was 22 years of age.
He is buried Poperinghe New Military Cemetery. Poperinghe New Military Cemetery is located 10.5 km west of Ypres town centre, in the town of Poperinge itself (Grave number II.F.42). His parents William and Harriet Wall place the following inscription on his gravestone: "For ever with the Lord".
Private Young was already serving under a two year suspended sentence for absence and striking a superior officer, when he went missing again. This offence had been committed just two months before the end of hostilities, when Private Young found himself in action for the first time. During heavy shelling in which the dugout had been blown in, Young made his way to the rear. Although at his court martial he was convicted of desertion, had evidence been available at the time a charge of cowardice might have been preferred.
At his trial little or no regard was paid to statements made by him in defence of his actions and he was executed by firing squad on the 18th September 1918. He was 21 years of age.
Private Young is buried at the Karasouli Military Cemetery, Greece. The cemetery is near the town of Polikastron (formerly Karasouli) which lies some 56 Km from Thessalonika (Grave number D.885.).