Remembered With Honour?

I think most of the "Shot at Dawn" cases (now pardoned, anyway) do, but I am aware that some (if not all) WW1 executed murderers were not commemorated though - I think there are exceptions.

 

Whilst I tend to agree with the spirit of the epetition, below are details of a WW1 murderer commemorated at Brookwood. I am unsure of the wording on the Brookwood Memorial (I think that is the crux!)

Verney Asser, a 30-year-old Australian soldier of the 2nd Training Battalion, was hanged at HMP Shepton Mallet on 5 March 1918 by John Ellis and William Willis. He was convicted at the Assize Courts in Devizes, Wiltshire on 16 January 1918 for fatally shooting his room-mate 24-year-old Corporal Joseph Harold Durkin at Sutton Veny Camp on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire on 27 November 1917

Name:ASSER, VERNEY
Initials:V
Nationality:Australian
Rank:Private
Regiment/Service:Australian Army Service Corps
Unit Text:1st Div. Train.
Date of Death:05/03/1918
Service No:296A
N.B.:This casualty has recently been accepted for commemoration by the Commission. However, it will not be possible to add his name to this Memorial immediately. Please contact the Commission before planning a visit, for more information.
Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead
Memorial:BROOKWOOD (UNITED KINGDOM 1914-1918) MEMORIAL

Roxy

 

I think most of the "Shot at Dawn" cases (now pardoned, anyway) do, but I am aware that some (if not all) WW1 executed murderers were not commemorated though - I think there are exceptions.

Hello Andy

Are all the WW2 commemorations confirmed murderers ?



regards
Clive

 

Clive

All are murderers, except for one who was convicted for treason (spying).

Roxy

Yes, I know about the rather astonishing case of Verney Asser and his recent 'addition', but I am aware of other Army murderers in WW1 who were dishonourably discharged before execution. Asser wasn't, and I am led to believe that the recent 'request' to add his name may have been the result of testing the water to see what would be the response when it was pointed out that he was still serving when executed. Obviously, the CWGC had no option other than to add his name although it begs the question; why was it originally excluded??

 

Andy,

Verney Asser was added to the Brookwood Memorial almost 2 years ago - according to Terry Denham on GWF. You appear to think that other executed servicemen from WW1 either have CWGC headstones or are not commemorated at all - is that correct?

Notwithstanding the pardon of those executed during WW1, I believe that the soldiers of WW2 deserve to receive the same treatment as those of WW1 - ie remove the details of all of those executed or none. However, I do appreciate your point that those from the RAF and RN were discharged from the Service prior to execution and were, consequently, civilians when executed.

I'm not sure about the quotation marks re 'addition' and 'request' - have I missed something. Whilst I have no information regarding why Asser was originally missed by CWGC, he is far from the only one; hence IFTC Project. That said, I would not be surprised if it was discovered to have been a deliberate ommision.

Roxy (contemplating signing, but needing a bit more convincing)

 

Whilst I think Asser has been nominally added, it has not been physically added - or so i understand. I am not sure of the exact timings, but you may be right about that it was two years ago. (To me, thats quite recent!)

I have merely concerned myself with those of WW2 who (I believe) are inappropriately commemmorated at Brookwood - but that is not to say there are not discrepancies or injustices in respect of WW1 casualties. It is simply not an area I have (yet) extensively looked at, although I am sure that others have. However, those WW1 executed soldiers buried under CWGC headstones are I believe exclusively those in the "Shot at dawn" category; ie following military courts martial. Those hanged for murder in civilian jails for a "civilian" crime (albeit that the murder might have been of another soldier) are most certainly not buried under CWGC headstones. In my view, they should not be honoured by the CWGC and their cases are entirely different to the "Shot at dawn" cases - who have been pardoned, anyway.

Let me reiterate, though, that there is no criticism here of the CWGC who are merely applying MOD policy.

I remain convinced that the commemoration of these felons (including a double child killer, rapist/murderers/spy) is highly inappropriate under a memorial inscription "Their Name Liveth For Evermore" and "Remembered With Honour". The memorial is dedicated to those who died honourably and whom "...the fortunes of war denied a known and honoured grave." It was hardly the "fortune of war" that denied these men an honoured grave and, indeed, it was the case that they were intended and destined for a dishonoured grave inside the prison walls.

I can think of no shred of justification for the continuation of their commemmoration which, personally, I think to be immoral and obscene.

It cannot really have been intended (had it been properly thought through and considered) that these individuals should be honoured. Even if it was, it was patently wrong and it is now time to right that wrong.

 

I can only give moral support, not a British citizen.
Is your cause receiving media coverage?

peaceful

 

There was a little media coverage, but not much interest frankly.

However, I suspect that there may be some more interest around 14/15 February and the anniversary of Miriam Deeley's murder.

 

Might I thank those who have signed thus far, and encourage others to do so and to pass on the word.

Commemmoration of Executed Murderers - Removal of Names from CWGC Memorial - e-petitions

Thanks again!

 

Sadly only British Citizens can vote however your petition has my support.

Cheers

Geoff

 

Just signed. Good luck with the petition.

Keith.

 

Thanks to all for the ongoing support...!

 

Signed as I can still hold a British Passport

Cheers
Paul

 

Im under the impression that some servicemen were kicked out of the services prior to the death sentence being passed.I tried to find the grave of an Irish Guardsman [Samuel Morgan] who murdred a young girl and was told that he was not commemorated by the C.W.G.C as he was court marshalled and thrown out of the Army before sentence was passed.

 

I am sure that some were, but the fact remains that those at Brookwood, for whatever reason, were not. If they were serving when executed then they are commemmorated.

 

Yes, Winston Ramsey and I have been working on this particular issue together. The timing is no coincidence!

 

Just bumping this up!

Hope it might catch the eye of those who have not yet signed. Maybe you will sign and spread the word?

Little hope of reaching the magic figure, but every signature is a point made!

 

Hi

Just signed, but only 112 signatures at the moment.

Interested in Private 4918596 Arthur PEACH 11th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment

as the murder took place in Walsall. He murdered Kitty Lyons, an 18 year old girl, and seriously injured (attempt murder) Violet Richards at Walsall on Sunday 21 September 1941.

Very briefly he was a deserter, short of money, and in possession of a stolen side arm (a Webley Mk VI, dated 1917, serial number 263097). Girls just happened to walk past him, NO prior knowledge of him, and he shot and assaulted them.

Arthur’s trial took place at Stafford Assizes between the Wednesday 24 and Friday 26 September 1941 before Mister Justice MacNaghten. He was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging, this taking place at Winson Green Prison on Friday 30 January 1942 by Thomas Pierrepoint assisted by Henry Critchell.

Arthur is commemorated on the Brookwood Memorial, Surrey, on Panel 12. Column 1.




Regards

Graeme

 

Andy

Have just signed the petition and note only 129 signatures which I assume are primarily Forum members. With only about six months to go is it not possible for more general publicity?

Tony