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World War One: Thomas Highgate first to be shot for cowardice | World War One: Thomas Highgate first to be shot for cowardice |
(about 7 hours later) | |
He was caught, tried and shot "as publicly as possible" within 48 hours, in the first few weeks of World War One. The 19-year-old soldier's grave is lost and his name is not on the war memorial in his birthplace. | He was caught, tried and shot "as publicly as possible" within 48 hours, in the first few weeks of World War One. The 19-year-old soldier's grave is lost and his name is not on the war memorial in his birthplace. |
Thomas James Highgate was the first British soldier to be executed for desertion in WW1. | Thomas James Highgate was the first British soldier to be executed for desertion in WW1. |
His fate still provokes fierce emotions and difficult questions. | His fate still provokes fierce emotions and difficult questions. |
Terence Highgate, great-nephew of Thomas, has been campaigning for years to clear his name. | Terence Highgate, great-nephew of Thomas, has been campaigning for years to clear his name. |
He feels the village memorial, and its reference to a nearby chalk cross, make his case. | He feels the village memorial, and its reference to a nearby chalk cross, make his case. |
"It says; 'Shoreham, Kent, remember as you look at the cross on the hill, those who gave their lives for their country 1914 - 1918'," said Mr Highgate. | "It says; 'Shoreham, Kent, remember as you look at the cross on the hill, those who gave their lives for their country 1914 - 1918'," said Mr Highgate. |
"He was one of them and his name should be on there." | "He was one of them and his name should be on there." |
After initial clashes at the Belgian town of Mons in August 1914, the British army was forced into a two-week, exhausting, retreat. | After initial clashes at the Belgian town of Mons in August 1914, the British army was forced into a two-week, exhausting, retreat. |
'Army on run' | 'Army on run' |
Julian Putkowski, historian and author of Shot at Dawn, outlined how Pte Highgate made what would turn out to be a fatal decision, in the early hours of 6 September. | Julian Putkowski, historian and author of Shot at Dawn, outlined how Pte Highgate made what would turn out to be a fatal decision, in the early hours of 6 September. |
"The British army was on the run," he says. "Highgate falls out and asks permission to 'ease himself', to defecate basically. | "The British army was on the run," he says. "Highgate falls out and asks permission to 'ease himself', to defecate basically. |
"That's it really, that's his desertion. No more than an hour or two, or a few hours at any rate." | "That's it really, that's his desertion. No more than an hour or two, or a few hours at any rate." |
Later the same day and almost before he was officially reported missing, Pte Highgate was found in the grounds of a chateau, dressed in civilian clothes. | Later the same day and almost before he was officially reported missing, Pte Highgate was found in the grounds of a chateau, dressed in civilian clothes. |
His court martial, convened within hours, heard he confessed to a gamekeeper, "I have had enough of it, I want to get out of it and this is how I am going to do it". | His court martial, convened within hours, heard he confessed to a gamekeeper, "I have had enough of it, I want to get out of it and this is how I am going to do it". |
Forced to defend himself, Pte Highgate disputed that evidence and insisted he had intended to rejoin his unit. | Forced to defend himself, Pte Highgate disputed that evidence and insisted he had intended to rejoin his unit. |
However, he could not explain why he had taken off his uniform, saying only that his memory was unclear. | However, he could not explain why he had taken off his uniform, saying only that his memory was unclear. |
'Crisis of confidence' | 'Crisis of confidence' |
A guilty verdict was returned almost immediately. | A guilty verdict was returned almost immediately. |
Highgate was shot just after 07:00 on 8 September, in front of soldiers from two other units. | Highgate was shot just after 07:00 on 8 September, in front of soldiers from two other units. |
Mr Putkowski: "If one looks at the time Highgate deserts, the countryside is littered with stragglers, just like him, and they weren't executed. | Mr Putkowski: "If one looks at the time Highgate deserts, the countryside is littered with stragglers, just like him, and they weren't executed. |
"I have the feeling that what we are looking at here is a crisis of confidence amongst the senior officers and not necessarily anything to do with Highgate himself." | "I have the feeling that what we are looking at here is a crisis of confidence amongst the senior officers and not necessarily anything to do with Highgate himself." |
Those shots echo still. | Those shots echo still. |
When the village memorial was built in the 1920s the family did not, according to the Royal British Legion, ask for his name to be included. | When the village memorial was built in the 1920s the family did not, according to the Royal British Legion, ask for his name to be included. |
In the year 2000, the church held a poll on the issue, and of those taking part, the vast majority backed adding Highgate's name. | In the year 2000, the church held a poll on the issue, and of those taking part, the vast majority backed adding Highgate's name. |
Six years later, 306 British or Empire soldiers executed for cowardice or desertion (but not those guilty of mutiny or murder), received a blanket pardon. | Six years later, 306 British or Empire soldiers executed for cowardice or desertion (but not those guilty of mutiny or murder), received a blanket pardon. |
Yet, still a space remains on Shoreham's memorial where Pte Highgate's name could go. | Yet, still a space remains on Shoreham's memorial where Pte Highgate's name could go. |
Maj Michael Green, president of the local branch of the Royal British Legion, said the issue has been repeatedly discussed. | Maj Michael Green, president of the local branch of the Royal British Legion, said the issue has been repeatedly discussed. |
Hasty justice? | Hasty justice? |
"They feel that as a deserter he shouldn't be included. He wasn't killed [in the fighting], he was killed as a deserter," he said. | "They feel that as a deserter he shouldn't be included. He wasn't killed [in the fighting], he was killed as a deserter," he said. |
"I don't see why he should be included on the war memorial with those that actually served and died in the course of duty. | "I don't see why he should be included on the war memorial with those that actually served and died in the course of duty. |
"We will continue to discuss it but I feel it sets a poor precedent. But, that is my view and not necessarily the final view." | "We will continue to discuss it but I feel it sets a poor precedent. But, that is my view and not necessarily the final view." |
Pte Highgate's case shows the difficulties of judging past decisions by current standards. | Pte Highgate's case shows the difficulties of judging past decisions by current standards. |
His trial, hasty and one sided by civilian standards, was conducted in line with emergency wartime military procedures. | His trial, hasty and one sided by civilian standards, was conducted in line with emergency wartime military procedures. |
Death sentences had to be approved by the commander-in-chief, who was expected - required even - to take the prevailing military situation into account. | Death sentences had to be approved by the commander-in-chief, who was expected - required even - to take the prevailing military situation into account. |
And that situation was, by 5 September, that the British Expeditionary Force had lost 20,000 men - nearly a quarter of its strength - killed, wounded, missing and unaccounted for. | And that situation was, by 5 September, that the British Expeditionary Force had lost 20,000 men - nearly a quarter of its strength - killed, wounded, missing and unaccounted for. |
Orders from the top said "stragglers" without a good story would face "severe punishment". | Orders from the top said "stragglers" without a good story would face "severe punishment". |
On a personal level for Pte Highgate, it is rather more complex. | On a personal level for Pte Highgate, it is rather more complex. |
The 19-year-old, who joined the army in early 1913, had a poor military record, including previous absences. He had even served 42 days imprisonment for desertion - but was only caught when he tried to join a different army unit closer to one of his brothers. | The 19-year-old, who joined the army in early 1913, had a poor military record, including previous absences. He had even served 42 days imprisonment for desertion - but was only caught when he tried to join a different army unit closer to one of his brothers. |
A medical report just weeks before war began found he suffered from confusion and memory lapses, possibly related to contracting yellow fever while serving on a ship. | A medical report just weeks before war began found he suffered from confusion and memory lapses, possibly related to contracting yellow fever while serving on a ship. |
Mark Connelly, Professor of Modern British Military History at the University of Kent, warns against rewriting the past. | Mark Connelly, Professor of Modern British Military History at the University of Kent, warns against rewriting the past. |
'Overturn judgement?' | 'Overturn judgement?' |
"Let's say in 20-30 years time some German families say 'My great grandfather was in the Second World War and he was executed because he was involved in some Nazi atrocities," he said. | "Let's say in 20-30 years time some German families say 'My great grandfather was in the Second World War and he was executed because he was involved in some Nazi atrocities," he said. |
"'But we all know that until he joined the forced he was just a young man who was passionate about his country but didn't really have a political ideology, but was then seduced by the Nazi ideology. | "'But we all know that until he joined the forced he was just a young man who was passionate about his country but didn't really have a political ideology, but was then seduced by the Nazi ideology. |
"'We as a family would like to expunge that record'. | "'We as a family would like to expunge that record'. |
"Would we feel comfortable overturning judgements like that?" | "Would we feel comfortable overturning judgements like that?" |
The family, which lived in extreme poverty, moved between Shoreham and the fringes of London. Thomas, and two of his brothers who also died at the front, are included on a memorial in Sidcup. | The family, which lived in extreme poverty, moved between Shoreham and the fringes of London. Thomas, and two of his brothers who also died at the front, are included on a memorial in Sidcup. |
But Terence Highgate insists he should also be remembered in Shoreham. | But Terence Highgate insists he should also be remembered in Shoreham. |
"Since he has been cleared and free, his name should be on [the memorial]," he said. | "Since he has been cleared and free, his name should be on [the memorial]," he said. |
"It's not, so I have put up a cross in his name and it will stay there for ever and ever." |