Shot at Dawn: The Other Side of Valour
In this episode of Memory and Valour, we confront one of the darkest legacies of the First World War: soldiers executed by firing squad. Beyond Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele lies another roll call: twenty‑five Canadians condemned for “cowardice,” “desertion,” or “disobedience.”
Through voices like Private Walter Underwood and Medical Officer Maberly Esler, we uncover the machinery of discipline, from Field Punishment Number One to the ultimate sanction of execution. Were these acts of necessity, or miscarriages of justice?
Step into the trenches, hear the men who lived under the shadow of discipline, and remember those who were shot at dawn.
In this episode, we hear interviews with veterans who were there, including the widow of one man who was shot at dawn in 1916. These audio clips are portions of interviews conducted by the BBC and the Imperial War Museum in 1964 and 1993. Another veteran, Edward ‘Ted’ Francis, was interviewed by ABC News’ “The Century” project.
Harry Thomas Farr was born on 15 December 1890 in Kensington, London, the second son of William Thomas and Alice Farr née Grant. Harry was part of the 2nd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, but was withdrawn from the front line on 9 May, suffering from shellshock. No record of Harry’s treatment has survived, but a Casualty Clearing Station would have received him near the front line before being sent back to a base hospital run by the Royal Army Medical Corps.
On 17 September he disobeyed an order to go to the front with a ration party. His Regimental Sergeant Major is reported to have said:
‘You are a f…..g coward and you will go to the trenches. I give f..k all for my life and I give f..k all for yours and I’ll get you f…..g well shot’.
He was later sent to the front with an escort but struggled with the guards and was released after refusing to see a medical office further forward. He then ran back towards the rear and was placed under arrest on 18 September and later charged with the military crime of cowardice.
On 2 October 1916, Harry was tried by Field General Court Marshal at Ville-Sur-Ancre, France, in front of three officers. Harry was charged under section 4 (7) of the Army Act 1881 – ‘misbehaving before the enemy in such a manner as to show cowardice’.
Harry pleaded not guilty and had no ‘prisoner’s friend,’ so he defended himself. When away from the gunfire, Harry’s behavior was normal, but near the noise, he trembled with shellshock. Although he was previously officially diagnosed with shellshock, Harry was still found guilty, sentenced to death, and executed by firing squad on 18 October 1916.
Dr. Maberley Squire Esler (1888–1979)
Dr. Maberley Squire Esler was a British medical officer who served during the First World War.
Military Service: He served with the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) and was attached to various battalions on the Western Front and in Salonika, Greece, between 1915 and 1918.
Historical Record: His oral history interviews are preserved by the Imperial War Museums, providing firsthand accounts of medical practices, casualty treatment, the execution of soldiers, and soldier morale during the war.
Dimitro Sinicky had emigrated to Canada. His name is natively spelled Dmytro Sinizki. Private Dimitro Sinicky 830020 voluntarily enlisted in Winnipeg’s 144th Canadian Infantry Battalion on 3 December 1915. At this time, twenty years, 3 months of age, standing 5′ 5″ tall, 150 pounds with clothes, with fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair.
Private Dimitro Sinicky: Shot at Dawn
Reported on 20 October 1917 that Pte Sinicky had died 9 October 1917 – cause not stated. The 52nd Battalion on specialist training throughout the day at nearby Winnipeg Camp.
Not mentioned in the unit war diary, a company of the battalion would witness the execution. Lt-Col W W Foster DSO, officer commanding the 52nd Battalion, Sir Arthur Currie, commander of the Canadian Corps, and also Sir Douglas Haig promulgated the verdict.
Sentenced to death by firing squad, Sinicky executed at 06:11 on 9 October 1917. Buried in Plot VI, Row K, Grave 19 of Écoivres Military Cemetery, France.
Final moments of Sergeant William Alexander
As recalled by Canon F. G. Scott in his book “The Great War As I Saw It“.
“The big hand was pointing to ten minutes to six. A few moments later the guards entered. And, put a gas helmet over his head with the two eye-pieces behind so that he was completely blindfolded. Then they handcuffed him behind his back. And, we started off in an ambulance to a crossroad which went up the side of a hill.
“There we got out, and the prisoner was led over to a box behind which a post had been driven into the ground. The prisoner seated on the box and his hands handcuffed behind the post. He asked the A.P.M. if the helmet could be taken off, but this was mercifully refused him. A round piece of white paper was pinned over his heart by the doctor. A guide for the men’s aim“.
“I went over and pronounced the Benediction. He added, “And may God have mercy upon my soul.”
“The doctor and I then went into the road on the other side of the hedge. We blocked up our ears. But, of course we heard the shots fired. It was sickening. We went back to the prisoner who was leaning forward and the doctor felt his pulse and pronounced him dead. The spirit had left the dreary hillside and, I trust, had entered the ranks of his heroic comrades in Paradise.”
Death
“The effect of the scene was something quite unutterable. The firing party marched off and drew up in the courtyard of the prison. I told them how deeply all ranks felt the occasion. And, that nothing but the dire necessity of guarding the lives of the men in the front line from the panic and rout that might result, through the failure of one individual, compelled the taking of such measures of punishment.
A young lad in the firing party utterly broke down. But, one rifle on such occasions always loaded with a blank cartridge. No man can be absolutely sure that he has had a part in the shooting. The body then placed in a coffin. And, taken in the ambulance to the military cemetery, where I held the service.“
I feel disgusted and touched by the Shot at Dawn men, disgusted in how they were sentenced with virtually no defence, these men were not cowards they were ill men and needed help and thatstupid 3 words LMF, low moral fibre persisted even into WW2
The casing of a blank cartridge is visibly different from that of live round with the crimped end blown open. As long as the casing wasn’t ejected you could examine it and see if you fired a blank. Small consolation after being on a firing squad.
If you have the blank round, you feel no recoil. If the rifle “kicked,” you fired a live round. You might hope that you had the blank up until the trigger was squeezed, but you know the moment that the round is fired if it was live or not.