gnu,

"...Let us not forget that MANY young men were shot for desertion upon returning from leave even minutes after the appointed hour. Even though they returned of their own volition, to be late was considered high treason and they were summarily shot as examples of the discipline required by the officers...."

I'd like to see your sources on this, can you please let me have the references (on thread or PM to this address as my home machine is playing up), I don't remember seeing it mentioned in either Sykes & Pukowski (Shot at Dawn) or in Babbington (For The Sake of Example).

Regards

Walrus