The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #156088   Message #3685007
Posted By: Teribus
12-Dec-14 - 08:56 AM
Thread Name: WWI, was No-Man's Land
Subject: RE: WWI, was No-Man's Land
"The twenty or so executions, not to mention the ones not carried out after sentencing are all myths now!"

What on earth are you babbling on about fatty? Or is it one of the other two?

Over 3,000 death sentences were passed by British courts martial between 1914 and 1920 - Only 346 of those were actually carried out:

266 were for desertion,
18 for cowardice,
37 for murder,
7 for quitting post,
3 for mutiny,
2 for sleeping while a sentry,
6 for striking a superior officer,
5 for disobedience and
2 for casting away arms.

In every single case above the order to carry out the punishment was signed by the Commander in Chief of the British Forces after all trial papers had been reviewed.

None of the above was subject to a summary execution as described by you clowns and by Jim Carroll - My reason for being able to make that assertion? Every scrap of paper pertaining to the events leading up to the man being buried is in existence and can be viewed.

By the way just as an aside many of those shot were under suspended sentences of death and had re-offended. All received a blanket pardon. Now why on earth a convicted murder should be pardoned I do not know.

To put things into perspective measure the 346 against the 702,410 officers and men of the British forces killed in action.

"Assistant Provost Marshals and their men had the grim duty of supervising the executions of men sentenced to death. They themselves were not required to furnish the firing squads."

So even those duly tried and executed were not shot by your RED TOPS - Muppet.