The official meaning of desertion in military terms is extremely cold hearted - Abandonment of a duty or post without permission, with the intention of not returning.
In actual reality, many of those men were more likely suffering from severe shell shock and simply could not face being on the front line with the sounds of guns and shells exploded all around. They were men with unseen injuries that would, in today's terms, have meant that they would have been medically discharged and sent for treatment.
In total, its recorded that 306 British and Commonwealth soldiers were short for cowardice or desertion. They were usually blindfolded and tied up in front of a firing squad of 12 men.
Post-war, the names of those men were not placed on the war graves alongside those that had fought and died serving their country. Even today, many of the names of those men are still missing and families continue to tirelessly fight to change that. It wasn't until 2006, that the men were giving a blanket pardon, yet it really shouldn't have taken so long.
Today, you can visit the Shot At Dawn memorial situated in Staffordshire, England. It was designed by Andy DeComyn and unveiled in 2000 and depicts a young British soldier blindfolded and tied to a stake like those 306 men were, ready to be shot by a firing squad. It is one of the only memorials of its kind and really makes you think about whether those men really deserved it.
Showing posts with label british. Show all posts
Showing posts with label british. Show all posts
Saturday, 11 February 2017
Thursday, 8 December 2016
READ ALL ABOUT IT - LLOYD GEORGE BECOMES BRITISH PRIME MINISTER
It is today, on the 8th December 1916, that I announce events which took place yesterday, whereby King George V formally asked David Lloyd George to form a new coalition government, following on from Asquith's resignation on the 5th December.
Born on the 17th January 1863, David Lloyd George has faced a lot of criticism both among his own party and the British public. However, he is highly knowledgeable about what needs to be done to ensure victory and has already set the wheels in motion to do so.
Lloyd George trained as a solicitor in his youth before joining the political world. In 1906, he was announced as President Of The Board Of Trade, while just two years later becoming Chancellor Of The Exchequer. It was here that he started to change the lives of the working class. He created and pushed though parliament the Old Age Pensions Act, to ensure people too old to work would still have an income.
In 1911, Lloyd George put through the 1911 National Insurance Act, a form of health insurance scheme, allowing free medical attentions & medicine to workers.
David Lloyd George recently became Minister Of Munitions in 1915, increasing production of much needed weapons after last years shell crisis.
It has been said that he is already shaking things up in parliament, with talk of a daily meeting instead of a weekly one so that everything can be discussed each day. We will report on this story as soon as we have anymore information and we wish David Lloyd George the best of luck as Prime Minister.
Born on the 17th January 1863, David Lloyd George has faced a lot of criticism both among his own party and the British public. However, he is highly knowledgeable about what needs to be done to ensure victory and has already set the wheels in motion to do so.
Lloyd George trained as a solicitor in his youth before joining the political world. In 1906, he was announced as President Of The Board Of Trade, while just two years later becoming Chancellor Of The Exchequer. It was here that he started to change the lives of the working class. He created and pushed though parliament the Old Age Pensions Act, to ensure people too old to work would still have an income.
In 1911, Lloyd George put through the 1911 National Insurance Act, a form of health insurance scheme, allowing free medical attentions & medicine to workers.
David Lloyd George recently became Minister Of Munitions in 1915, increasing production of much needed weapons after last years shell crisis.
It has been said that he is already shaking things up in parliament, with talk of a daily meeting instead of a weekly one so that everything can be discussed each day. We will report on this story as soon as we have anymore information and we wish David Lloyd George the best of luck as Prime Minister.
Tuesday, 29 September 2015
Life AT War - Day By Day
29th September 1915
The first transcontinental radio telephone message has been sent, giving a new turning point in the war.
The British army has conquered Chilly Al Imara in Mesopotamia.
The first transcontinental radio telephone message has been sent, giving a new turning point in the war.
The British army has conquered Chilly Al Imara in Mesopotamia.
Friday, 25 September 2015
Life AT War - Day By Day
25th September 1915
The Battle of Loos has begun. This long and devastating battle was to last until the 14th October. The British deployed Chlorine gas across to the German front line, however due to the strong wind current, this was quickly blown back across No Mans Land and back to the British Front Line. An estimated 59,000 British & 26,000 German casualties were the result of this battle.
The Second Battle of Champagne has begun.
The Battle of Loos has begun. This long and devastating battle was to last until the 14th October. The British deployed Chlorine gas across to the German front line, however due to the strong wind current, this was quickly blown back across No Mans Land and back to the British Front Line. An estimated 59,000 British & 26,000 German casualties were the result of this battle.
The Second Battle of Champagne has begun.
Monday, 23 March 2015
Life AT War - Day by Day
23rd March 1915
Around 700 Jewish men have formed a fighting force to be known under the name Zion Mule Corp. They will be under the British Armies Rule and will help fight where ever it is needed.
Around 700 Jewish men have formed a fighting force to be known under the name Zion Mule Corp. They will be under the British Armies Rule and will help fight where ever it is needed.
Wednesday, 18 March 2015
Life AT War - Day by Day
18th March 1915
A British attack in Dardanelles has failed.
The French battleship Bouvet has exploded, killing 640 people.
A British attack in Dardanelles has failed.
The French battleship Bouvet has exploded, killing 640 people.
Thursday, 19 February 2015
Life AT War - Day by Day
19th February 1915
A British fleet have been firing along the Dardanelle coast.
A British fleet have been firing along the Dardanelle coast.
Friday, 21 November 2014
Saturday, 1 November 2014
Life AT War - Day by Day
1st November 1914
A German vs British naval battle has commenced at Coronel, off the coast of Chile. Von Hindenburg has been named as Marshal of the Eastern Front
The battle was to last only one day with German victory. Over 2,500 people were killed with many more being injured.
A German vs British naval battle has commenced at Coronel, off the coast of Chile. Von Hindenburg has been named as Marshal of the Eastern Front
The battle was to last only one day with German victory. Over 2,500 people were killed with many more being injured.
Monday, 27 October 2014
Life AT War - Day By Day
27th October 1914
The British battleship Audacious has been sunk by a mine.
The British battleship Audacious has been sunk by a mine.
Monday, 22 September 2014
Life AT War - Day by Day
22nd September 1914
A German submarine has sunk three British Ironclads.
Ironclads, the latest in technology of warships was a steam powered warship covered in iron or steel armour plates. The sinking of these three ships left 1,459 dead.
A German submarine has sunk three British Ironclads.
Ironclads, the latest in technology of warships was a steam powered warship covered in iron or steel armour plates. The sinking of these three ships left 1,459 dead.
Friday, 5 September 2014
Life AT War - Day by Day
5th September 1914
British forces have prevented german troops from advancing into Paris, the french headquaters have moved to Chatillon-sur-seine, US president Wilson has ordered the US Navy to make its wireless stations accessible for any transatlantic communications.
British forces have prevented german troops from advancing into Paris, the french headquaters have moved to Chatillon-sur-seine, US president Wilson has ordered the US Navy to make its wireless stations accessible for any transatlantic communications.
Friday, 22 August 2014
Life AT War - Sports
For man, sports has always been popular. Whether its playing or just talk about it, its a common ground for everybody. At the start of World War 1, men volunteered for the army to help win the war. Unfortunately, many of these men, although trained, would be killed after only a couple of months at the front.
The government realised this and decided they needed a new tactic. They therefore decided that they should speak to the sports clubs around Britain and try and promote whole teams joining up to help fight the war. Many athletes, football players and other sportsmen soon agreed and gave interviews to their local papers before leaving for training in the hope that it would spur the fan's on to also join. The stated that sport should be put on hold in order to fight for your country and that sport would resume when Britain's victory was declared.
In battalions you would most likely find that most of the soldiers were made up of football teams and their fan's which soon created a tight bond and common ground.
Although sport was put on hold for the duration, there was one very special football match that did take place...
Christmas Eve 1914, Ypres. A German soldier could be heard singing in German from his trench, his song, Silent Night. Suddenly all the German's joined in and could be heard in the British trenches. The British remembered the tune and started to sing in English.
On Christmas morning, every British soldier was given a Christmas gift box from the Princess Mary Gift Fund, to ensure that every soldier was remembered and had something special to open on Christmas morning. The soldiers were delighted. Shortly afterwards, a lone German soldier could be seen climbing out of his trench, with his hands held in the air. He then shouted "Happy Christmas" to the British soldiers, to the British amazement, slowly more and more Germans followed suit, smiling and laughing. The British decided that they should do the same and so they met the German's in the middle of No Man's land and shook hands.
From the trenches, the German's had brought with them Brandy and Cigars, the British brought Whisky and Christmas pudding and they all exchanged these as you would exchange presents at any peacetime Christmas. Everyone was laughing and joking and having a good time. The British decided to get out an old tin can and the British and German soldiers joined together to play a game of football across No Man's Land.
As it started to get dark, they said their goodbye's and shook hands. Many soldiers also took off a button from their jackets and exchanged them for one from what tomorrow would be their enemy's jackets in order to remember the Christmas they had just had. The following day, the war resumed and they were enemy's again.
After this day, sport wasn't played again until the end of the war. By this time many of Britain's greatest sports players had been killed or lost limbs and many more had suffered gas attacks and were unable to play the sport they loved again. This was a great sacrifice for their country, to give up the sport they loved, to more than likely never play it again.
The government realised this and decided they needed a new tactic. They therefore decided that they should speak to the sports clubs around Britain and try and promote whole teams joining up to help fight the war. Many athletes, football players and other sportsmen soon agreed and gave interviews to their local papers before leaving for training in the hope that it would spur the fan's on to also join. The stated that sport should be put on hold in order to fight for your country and that sport would resume when Britain's victory was declared.
In battalions you would most likely find that most of the soldiers were made up of football teams and their fan's which soon created a tight bond and common ground.
Although sport was put on hold for the duration, there was one very special football match that did take place...
Christmas Eve 1914, Ypres. A German soldier could be heard singing in German from his trench, his song, Silent Night. Suddenly all the German's joined in and could be heard in the British trenches. The British remembered the tune and started to sing in English.
On Christmas morning, every British soldier was given a Christmas gift box from the Princess Mary Gift Fund, to ensure that every soldier was remembered and had something special to open on Christmas morning. The soldiers were delighted. Shortly afterwards, a lone German soldier could be seen climbing out of his trench, with his hands held in the air. He then shouted "Happy Christmas" to the British soldiers, to the British amazement, slowly more and more Germans followed suit, smiling and laughing. The British decided that they should do the same and so they met the German's in the middle of No Man's land and shook hands.
From the trenches, the German's had brought with them Brandy and Cigars, the British brought Whisky and Christmas pudding and they all exchanged these as you would exchange presents at any peacetime Christmas. Everyone was laughing and joking and having a good time. The British decided to get out an old tin can and the British and German soldiers joined together to play a game of football across No Man's Land.
As it started to get dark, they said their goodbye's and shook hands. Many soldiers also took off a button from their jackets and exchanged them for one from what tomorrow would be their enemy's jackets in order to remember the Christmas they had just had. The following day, the war resumed and they were enemy's again.
After this day, sport wasn't played again until the end of the war. By this time many of Britain's greatest sports players had been killed or lost limbs and many more had suffered gas attacks and were unable to play the sport they loved again. This was a great sacrifice for their country, to give up the sport they loved, to more than likely never play it again.
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