Shot at dawn memorial

The Shot at Dawn Memorial is a British Monument located at the National Memorial Arboretum near Alrewas, in Staffordshire, UK in memory of the 306 British and Commonwealth soldiers executed for cowardice and desertion during World War I; the real usual cause for their offences was post-traumatic stress syndrome and combat stress reaction.

The memorial portrays a young British soldier blindfolded and tied to a stake in anticipation of execution by firing squad. The memorial was modelled on the likeness of 17-year-old Private Herbert Burden, who lied about his age in order to enlist in the forces and was later shot for desertion. It is surrounded by a semicircle of stakes on which are listed the names of every soldier executed in this fashion. These included: Harry Farr, Thomas Highgate, Eric Poole, and Lance Corporal Peter Goggins.

The memorial was created by the artist Andy De Comyn and was unveiled by Mrs. Gertrude Harris, daughter of Private Farr, in June 2001. Mrs. Marina Brewis, the great niece of Lance Corporal Goggins, also attended the service.

[edit] References

• BBC News item
• Entry in UK National Inventory of War Memorials
• (French) Soldat fusill pour l'exemple

[edit] External links

• Web page

Coordinates: 52–43–29–N 1–43–28–W»¿ / »¿52.7248–N 1.7244–W»¿ / 52.7248; -1.7244

• Memorial to German World War Two deserters in Ulm, Germany at the Sites of Memory webpage
• Memorial to all deserters in Stuttgart, Germany at the Sites of Memory webpage