2 Answers - Sort by: Date | Rating
In August 2006, the long campaign to get two First World War soldiers pardoned after 90 years finally came to an end. The two soldiers were judged to be cowards because they were completely incapable of fighting because of shell shock.
In February this year, their local community finally honoured them by adding their names to the war memorial. They are now no longer considered to be cowards who did not fight - they are judged as having shell shock, or post-traumatic stress disorder, as we now know it.
Privates Harry Farr James Swaine now have their names on the Wealdstone war memorial in north-west London.
The story of the campaign was reported widely in the press and the stories of the sad suffering that the two soldiers families experienced are heart rending. Cowardice was considered such a terrible stigma that their lives were made a misery by the thought of it
In February this year, their local community finally honoured them by adding their names to the war memorial. They are now no longer considered to be cowards who did not fight - they are judged as having shell shock, or post-traumatic stress disorder, as we now know it.
Privates Harry Farr James Swaine now have their names on the Wealdstone war memorial in north-west London.
The story of the campaign was reported widely in the press and the stories of the sad suffering that the two soldiers families experienced are heart rending. Cowardice was considered such a terrible stigma that their lives were made a misery by the thought of it
1
0
Actually, over 300 World War I soldiers were recently (Feb 2007) pardoned in a move by Defense Secretary John Reid.
The first two of the executed soldiers to have their names added to a war memorial in London have received the most publicity. They were Privates Harry Farr and James Swaine, both executed in 1916.
Farr had already served for 2 years, and was 25 years old and probably suffering from severe shell-shock when he refused to return to front-line fighting. He was shot at dawn for cowardice.
Swaine was a driver during the war. He served on the front line for 17 months, but failed to return to duty after a home visit. He was age 35 when he was arrested in a pub in Britain, and then transported back to France where he was shot for desertion.
They were pardoned because the modern preception is that unbearable demands were placed on these (and other men) who had served their country well previously but simply could no longer stand the strain of the war's horrific conditions.
The first two of the executed soldiers to have their names added to a war memorial in London have received the most publicity. They were Privates Harry Farr and James Swaine, both executed in 1916.
Farr had already served for 2 years, and was 25 years old and probably suffering from severe shell-shock when he refused to return to front-line fighting. He was shot at dawn for cowardice.
Swaine was a driver during the war. He served on the front line for 17 months, but failed to return to duty after a home visit. He was age 35 when he was arrested in a pub in Britain, and then transported back to France where he was shot for desertion.
They were pardoned because the modern preception is that unbearable demands were placed on these (and other men) who had served their country well previously but simply could no longer stand the strain of the war's horrific conditions.
1
0
- What Groups Are Involved In Animal Testing?
- What Religions Were Out During World War Two?
- How Many More Years Will It Be Until War With Iraq Is Over?
- What Is The Advantage And The Disadvantages Of Labor Union?
- Why Did France Fight With Britain?
- What Happen To The Nations That Lost World War 2?
- How Did The War Between The U.S. And Afghanistan?
- Hannibal Fought With Who In The Punic War?
- What Was The First Major Battle Of The Civil War?
- What Wre Five Long And Short Terms Effects Of World War 1?
- Why Did The Battle Of King's Mountain Happen? (the Cause Of It Occurring.)
- What Is Thirty Years War?
- Do I Need A Dog Passport To Take My Dog Over To Israel?
- Why Was The Battle Of Horseshoe Bend So Important?
- How Many People Died In War In Afghanistan?
- How Sailors React When They Go To The Iraq War?
- How Many US Soldiers Have Died In Iraq?anybody Know?
- What Created A Nation By The South And The Beginning Of A Long Terrible War?
- Who Was The Speaker In Allied Powers?
- State The Importance Of Key Events Of The Civil War; Include Antietam, Emancipation Proclamation, Gettysburg, Chickamauga, The Union Blockade Of Georgia's Coast, Sherman's Atlanta Campaign, Sherman's March To The Sea, And Andersonville?
- What Were The Conditions Like For Civilians In Ww2?
- In The 1867 Reconstruction Acts, Why Did Congress Subdivide The Former Confederacy Geographically Into Five Military Districts?
- What Happened In The Ironclad Battle Between Monitor And The Merrimack?
- Who Is The Navy Vice Chief?
- My Question To You Is That I Want To Join The U.s Army But I'm 14 Years Old What Can I Do?
- In World War I Did Soldiers Have To Go To War If They Registered?
- What Were Conditions Like For The Soldiers During World War 1?
- In World War 1, What Were They Emotions Of The Soldiers?
- How Many Soldiers Fought In World War Two?
- How Many Us Soldiers Died In World War 2?
- How Many Soldiers Die In World War One?
- How Many Soldiers Fought During World War One?
- How Many Soldiers Were Killed In The Second World War?

New Comment - Comments are editable for 5 min.