First things first I have never claimed that "The accusation that British soldiers were summarily executed by their own officers and by "special squads" of Military Police remains unsubstantiated and unproven"

So you can forget that.

Second issue, we do not know if the gentleman in question gave the name of the soldier murdered or the name of the officer culpable. We only know they are not mentioned in the article. As the soldier could be construed as to have been killed for cowardice, that is a decent reason for not naming him. As the officer may have been shot by his own side that again is a good reason for not naming him. The dates in relation to the article are irrelevant.

Thirdly why should a soldier from WW1 lie to his son many years after the event. I don't know about you but I am, and always have been, scrupulously honest with my son.

Forthly, you try to maintain a time frame not given in the article, however even using your time frame units of the North Staffordshire regiment where engaged in fighting:

1/6th Battalion Territorial Force:Feb 1916 Returned to France and the Division engaged in various actions on the Western Front including; The diversionary attack at Gommecourt.

8th (Service) Battalion:During 1915
The Action of Pietre.
During 1916
The Battle of Albert, The attacks on High Wood, The Battle of Pozieres Ridge, The Battle of the Ancre Heights, The Battle of the Ancre.

9th (Service) Battalion (Pioneers):29.07.1915 Mobilised for war and landed at Havre and engaged in various actions on the Western Front including;During 1916 The Battle of the Ancre.

I could go on.