Shot at Dawn:
The Shot at Dawn Memorial is a commemorative site in the United Kingdom that honors the 306 British Army and Commonwealth soldiers executed after court-martial for desertion and other capital offenses during World War I. These soldiers were members of the British, Commonwealth, and Allied forces who were court-martialed and subsequently executed for crimes such as desertion, cowardice, mutiny, and other offenses under military law.
The Shot at Dawn Memorial is a monument at the National Memorial Arboretum near Alrewas in Staffordshire, United Kingdom. It commemorates the 306 British Army and Commonwealth soldiers executed after courts-martial for desertion and other capital offenses during World War I.
Soldiers faced extremely difficult conditions during the 'Great War,' including intense combat stress, shell shock (now known as post-traumatic stress disorder), and the harsh realities of trench warfare. Some of them could not cope with the conditions and made the difficult decision to desert or refuse to follow orders. Others may have suffered from mental health issues but did not receive the understanding and support they needed during the war.
The memorial, located at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, England, was unveiled in 2001. It features a statue of a blindfolded and bound soldier standing before a firing squad, surrounded by 306 posts, each bearing the names of all the soldiers executed under military law for similar transgressions.
This poignant and passionate sculpture is a solemn reminder of the tragic fate that befell these soldiers during immense hardship and turmoil. The Shot at Dawn Memorial aims to bring awareness to World War I history's often controversial and tragic aspects. Many of these executed soldiers were later pardoned posthumously, acknowledging the harsh realities they faced and the inadequate treatment they received during their service.
The memorial serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of understanding and supporting the mental well-being of soldiers during times of conflict and the impact of war on individuals and families. It also symbolizes reconciliation and acknowledgment of past mistakes, ensuring that those who suffered unjustly are remembered and honored.
Firing post number 054, Private Harold George Carter, 73rd Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force, executed on April 20, 1917, aged 21. He was one of 23 Canadian soldiers executed during the first world war.
George Carter was born on March 26, 1894, to George Howard Carter and Amelia 'Milly' Carter in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Field General Court Martial tried and convicted Private Carter on April 5, 1917. The charge read: "When on active service, he deserted His Majesty's service. Absent - 5 days, absent two previous occasions, while on a suspended sentence, absented himself." Executed by firing squad on April 20, 1917.
In a parliamentary statement on December 11, 2001, the Honorable Ron J. Duhamel, Minister of Veterans Affairs, said:
"Those who go to war at the request of their nation do not know the fate that lies in store for them. This was a war of such overwhelming sound, fury, and unrelenting horror that few combatants could remain unaffected. While we cannot relive those awful years of a nation at peril in total war, and although the culture of that time is subsequently too distant for us to comprehend fully, we can give these 23 soldiers a dignity that is their due and provide closure to their families."
The Government of Canada apologized and formally announced its regret on December 11, 2001; Veteran Affairs Minister Dr. Ron Duhamel rose in the House of Commons and, with sincerity and passion, read the names of those 23 Canadians into the Parliamentary records and announced their names would be written into Parliament Hill's Book of Remembrance. All of Canada's opposition Parties wholeheartedly supported him.