Private William Jones was probably suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) induced by the horrors of the Great War. But after deserting the young solider turned himself in – and later found himself blindfolded and put before a firing squad. The young solider from the Vale of Neath was one of 306 young British soldiers – 15 of them serving in Welsh ranks – who received the ultimate punishment for military offences such as desertion, cowardice, falling asleep or striking an officer. They were all shot at dawn. Read more http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/shot-dawn-15-welshman-executed-7879094
My Grandfather served on the Western front through what was probably the worst period of the war - early 1916 to occupation service in 1919. He told me in vivid detail about field punishments, the treatment of the shell shocked and life generally in the forward lines. Recognising that military discipline had to be maintained, the culture of the time and the lesser value placed on life, what he described was damning of the then officer classes and the political establishment. "Lions lead by donkeys" just doesn't go far enough.
The actual figure of men SaD wasn't 306 but 346. The figure of 306 refers to those given the posthumous pardon in 2006 signed by Des Browne. The other 40 were never pardoned and involved in cases which would have seen the accused on the end of a rope in civilian life.
