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Well Done New Zealand

Pomgolian

Kiwi Brummie
On 31 August 2005 the five New Zealand Servicemen 'Shot at Dawn' by the British Army (under the orders of Commander-in-chief Douglas Haig) in World War 1 were pardoned by the New Zealand Government in a ceremony where their families were handed their Service Medals in recognition of their service to their country.
SAD%201_small.jpg
memorial to those Shot at Dawn

Better late than never
Pardon of Private John Braithwaite, regimental number 24/1521, a member of the 2nd Battalion, Otago Regiment,
Pardon of Private Frank Hughes, regimental number 24/2008, a member of the 2nd Battalion, Canterbury Regiment,-
Pardon of Private John King, regimental number 6/1598, a member of the 1st Battalion, Canterbury Regiment
Pardon of Private Private Victor Manson Spencer, regimental number 8/2733, a member of the 1st Battalion, Otago Regiment
Pardon of Private John Joseph Sweeney, regimental number 5/1384, a member of the 1st Battalion, Otago Regiment
 
2nd This

:) At last these young men of Our Kith & Kin are rightly HONOURED,
Thanks to These Lads & ALL the Incredible ANZACS to whom WE owe so much :)
 
And I'll bet all very young men suffering from shell shock etc. Do you know the story of any of them Chris? Thanks indeed to all those from "the Colonies" who came to our aid, their sacrifice was enormous.
 
These were only boys.

Why is it down to mealy mouthed Politicians to decide if people who lived horrors I can't imagine should be honoured or forgiven?
They have and always will be, the bravest of all men...men..ha...boys...just boys.
Well done New Zealand.
 
God rest their souls.

It is unforgivable that young men were shot, men to whom we owe so much. My thoughts go to their families, for all the years they have lived with their emotions.

Well done NZ
 
Well at last these poor souls have been pardoned,
whose to know how these poor lads suffered,the hardships these poor lads went through,there is only an hairs breadth between being a hero or a coward,and it all depended on circumstances of the situation at the time.
there were NO cowards only.poor brave lads, R.I.P
 
Well done to NZ for pardoning these young men after all these years, so long overdue. I believe in the last few years relatives of British "deserters" tried to get them pardoned but were refused. All these men and boys in the First World War were heroes in my eyes, it was supposed to be the war to end all wars but the carnage still goes on.
When will we ever learn?
 
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