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What Is The Connection ? (2)

Old Boy

Old Boy

master brummie
Hi All,

THe below named soldiers served in the 3rd Battalion, Royal Worcestershire Regt in WW1. They have something in common - what is it? I imagine I will get the answer quite soon.

Corporal Frederick Ives
Private Ernest Fellows
Private John Robinson
Private Alfred Thompson
Private Bert Hartells

Old Boy
 
Sadly they were all shot at dawn ..... on 26th July, 1915 these five men of the 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment were executed on the ramparts of Ypres in what became the largest single execution by the British during the First World War. They had all been found guilty of desertion.
 
Last edited:
Hi All,

Db is right of course. This was a local regiment and there is a good chance that one or more of these unfortuate men could have come from Birmingham or just outside. Does anyone know if any of them were Brummies?

Old Boy
 
Hello there "Old Boy",

Private Ernest Fellows was from Birmingham, Private Robinson came from Nechells, Birmingham and Private Thompson from Holloway Head, Birmingham. They were shot when they were 29 years, 31 years and 25 years of age respectively.

During the First World War there were 346 Military executions (this figure includes Commonwealth Troops) by firing squad, which was usually composed of at least six soldiers. One of their rifles was customarily loaded with a blank round so that no soldier could be sure he had fired a fatal shot.

It is recognised today that many of the soldiers who were shot may have been suffered from "shell shock" or "battle fatigue" and were obviously under extreme stress, which resulted in them deserting or other actions. Today these conditions are better known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, which is recognised as an illness.

None of the executed soldiers would be shot today; the military death penalty was outlawed in 1930.

Many of these men proved they were brave by refusing to be blindfolded for their executions. They stared down the barrels of the guns which were about to kill them. That's not cowardice. That's courage.

For more detailed information, please see:

https://www.worcestershireregiment.com/wr.php?main=inc/shot_at_dawn

.......... it's truly horrific. David
 
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