PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
PARDON FOR EXECUTED SOLDIERS (13 May 1997)

That this House believes it is not too late to restore the names and reputations of the soldiers of the British Empire Forces court martialled and executed, mostly on the Western Front, in the four years 1914-18, following charges ranging from desertion, cowardice, quitting posts, sleeping at posts, disobedience, striking a superior officer and casting away arms; regrets deficiencies in their opportunity to prepare adequate defence and appeals; notes the marked and enlightened change in the Army's attitude just over a score of years later to the consequences of soliders enduring long periods of severe cold and damp, lack of food and sleep coupled with the stress and shock of constant shellfire with the result that not a single solider was executed on these charges throughout the six years from 1939-45; considers that the vast majority of the 307 executed were as patriotic and brave as their million other compatriots who perished in the conflict and that their misfortune was brought about due to stress, or the stress of their accusers, during battle, and that even if the behaviour of a small minority may have fallen below that of the highest standards then time, compassion and justice dictates that all of these soldiers should now be treated as victims of the conflict; and urges the Prime Minister to recommend a posthumous pardon, thus bringing to a close a deeply unhappy and controversial chapter in the history of the Great War.

Sponsored by:
Andrew Mackinlay (Labour)