King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

Five members of the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment were executed or ‘Shot at Dawn’ during the First World War.  The crime was desertion – the tough system of military justice could issue the death sentence to a soldier found guilty.  Records indicate more soldiers deserted, but not all were executed.  The Military Command intended to set an example to others by the death sentence.  It is recorded that some soldiers were ‘Shot at Dawn’ by comrades from their own regiment. 

Over the past fifteen years, since the court martial records have been made public, there have been campaigns, by relatives and others, for these soldiers to be pardoned.

Number 2701 Lance Corporal W J Irvine
1st Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment
It is believed that Lance Corporal Irving enlisted on 10th August 1914,  his number indicates that he was a member of the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion.  He arrived in France on 12th September 1914 and deserted on 13th October 1914.  He was captured and charged with desertion, stealing goods from a comrade and escaping (after his initial arrest).  He was Shot at Dawn on 20th April 1915.
Lance Corporal Irving is buried in Le Grand Beaumart British Cemetery, France.  He was the son of Jane Irvine of 124 Stoop Street, Barrow in Furness.

Number 8136 Private James Kershaw
1st Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment
Private Kershaw enlisted in around 1904, and arrived in France along with the rest of the battalion on 23rd August 1914.  He deserted and was detained on 29th November 1915, escaping on 3rd December when he fled to Paris, where he was arrested on 2nd January 1915 only to escape again on 11th February 1915.  Private Kershaw was finally arrested on 26th February, court-martialled and Shot at Dawn on 26th April 1915.  His military records indicate he had a history of nervous trouble and heart failure.
Private Kershaw is buried in Le Grand Beaumart British Cemetery, France.

Number 3563 Private John Sloan
1st/4th Battalion (Territorial Force), King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment
Private Sloan volunteered for service after the beginning of the war.  During training in June 1916 for the Somme offensive of the next month he was seen to discard his equipment and make off.  He was arrested six days later and was Shot at Dawn on 16th July 1916.
Private Sloan is buried in Barley French Military Cemetery.

Number 11257 Lance Corporal George Edward Hughes
7th Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment
Lance Corporal Hughes enlisted into the King’s Own in around May 1914, and arrived in France on 18th December 1914.  He deserted during the Battle of the Somme and was Shot at Dawn on 23rd November 1916.
Lance Corporal Hughes is buried in Warloy-Baillon Cemetery.  He was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Hughes of 8 Ernest Street, Great Ancoats, Manchester.