SHOT AT DAWN – Soldiers Executed in the First World War
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.
Number 18143 Private Albert Holmes
8th Battalion,
King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment
Private Holmes
came from Preston and volunteered for war service in around March 1915, he
arrived in France on 17th July 1915 and served with both the 7th and 8th
Battalions. He was convicted of two offences of desertion and was Shot at
Dawn on 22nd April 1918 at the age of 22 years. He left a wife, recorded
as Bessie Holmes, of Croydon Street, Easton Road, Bristol. He is buried
in Chocques Military Cemetery, France.
