Shot at Dawn memorial re-opens after extensive restorations

Opened more than 20 years ago, the memorial remembers the 309 men from Britain and the Commonwealth who were shot at dawn.

The majority were killed for desertion, cowardice and sleeping at post. When they appeared at their Court Martial, they were told they’d brought shame on their country and had no opportunity to defend themselves.

Sentenced to death, the men would be executed firing squad.

With work taking place over the past few months, yesterday marked the official reopening with a service at the site attended by members of the public.

Philippa Rawlinson, Director at the National Memorial Arboretum, told GB News: “Thank you to the GB News viewers for your support for the fundraising campaign, and thanks to the generosity of so many people, over 900 people have donated.

“With all that generosity, we’ve been able to replace all 309 of the posts that represent those young men that were shot in the First World War, but also look at drainage, landscaping and access and interpretation for the site.

“We’ve been able to do a full-scale restoration of this precious memorial.”

The centre piece of the memorial is the statue of a young soldier, blindfolded and facing a firing squad represented by six conifer trees.

It was designed and sculpted by Andy de Comyn, who described what work was done.

He said: “The sculpture itself is looking a lot brighter than the last time you saw it, so it’s had first of all had a really good clean, and then a coating which is just a mixture of lime and polymers, and then a waterproof coating over the top of that.

“First of all, it brightens it up, but it’s also going to keep it looking nice for a long time and keep the rain out.”

The 309 new posts which surround the sculpture are made from a durable, recycled material and each represent the life of someone who was shot at dawn.

One of them recognises Private Harry Farr who was just 25 when he was executed. He had joined the army in 1908 and was part of the British Expeditionary Force sent to France in November 1914.

During his service, he’d been diagnosed with shell shock and had spent months in hospital. Despite this, he returned to his battalion and in September 1916 he was ordered to the front.

Overwhelmed due to his condition, but lacking any visible injuries, Harry was told to return to his unit, but he couldn’t do it.

He was court-martialed for refusing these orders and was sentenced to death after a trial which lasted just 20 minutes.

When he faced his execution by firing squad on 18th October 1916, he showed one final act of courage and refused a blindfold when he was led out to face his executioners.

Private Farr’s granddaughter, Janet Booth, was part of the public campaign to have those shot at dawn officially pardoned, which was achieved in 2006.

Attending the re-opening of the memorial, she told GB News: “When I asked my gran, ‘Do you know where I can find Harry's grave?’, she looked at my mother and she said he hasn't got a grave, because they didn't warrant he deserved one. He’d been shot as a coward and had let his country down.

“We can come here as a family and pay our respects to him and remember him.”
The memorial had been closed since 6th May, just over 20 years since it was dedicated at the Arboretum.

At the service to reopen the site, members of the public took part in a minute's silence before being allowed to pay their own respects.

One man told GB News: “It’s unbelievable to be here and a very somber moment for me. I’m ex-services, and to see all these soldiers and their courage to stand up for what they thought was right.”

“It’s just incredible” said one lady. “I’m just so glad there are people here who respect and honour these men.”

Another member of the public added: “For people to be in such scary environments and then be punished for being human really is awful.”