Genealogy Chat

Just read this on the internet news and thought the poor soul was ony 25 years old and suffering from shell shock. But they said he was a coward because he refused to return to the front line and was shot. Nurses said he shook so much he could not hold a pen. The family must be relieved and pleased. Because of this case the government have decided to look into other cases. I know this is probably not the right site to place this but thought how many peeps on here had rellies in WW1 and it would effect. Gwen

I was just reading about this on Ceefax Gwen, it's hard to imagine how scared they must have been, some of them were still children. The families must be so relieved.

Sorry but to me it's a bit blooming late and not having one of these in my tree yet I am unsure how much comfort this brings.

Well it has bought comfort to his daughter its just a shame she had to fight for justice. Gwen

Which ia the important thing however they should have been pardoned years ago but more importantly should not have been shot in the first place. How many lives have been ruined by war let alone then been shot by your own side.

I agree Pippa its bloody terrible and I think they should pardon them all now and apoligise to the families Gwen

My Grandfather was a gentle, highly cultured man - he was an Opera singer, who lived and trained at a music college in Germany before WW1. Yet in 1916 he dutifully donned a uniform and went to France to kill his German friends. I cannot imagine what this must have been like for him, but he would never ever speak about the War. His Uncle, a piano teacher, also went and came back a mental wreck. He spent 47 years in a mental asylum. His wife brought up their 4 children in dire poverty without a penny help from the grateful government. Neither Germany nor England gained a single inch of territory from all this. Ah, the glorious War!!! OC

Although I welcome justice after all these years, it does set a worrying precedent. If somebody is tried and convicted for a crime and then years later the law is changed, their conviction cannot be overturned.... because at the time the crime was committed they were breaking the law. If parliament changes a law, will this now mean that cases can be retrospectively reviewed and compensation claims filed?

Paul I understand your concerns (I think!) but this is a special case in that it is not the law which will be changed, merely the way in which it is (and was) applied. So - you will still be shot for cowardice, but the definition of cowardice has changed, not the actual law. I doubt if many people will really seek monetary compensation. I hope that makes sense - I am rather tired! OC