DON'T PUT A BANDAGE OVER MY EYES- I WANT TO SEE THEM SHOOT
Execution was a rarely used form of punishment and was not appropriated by military officials and the general public of New Zealand. During World War I, there were 5 New Zealand men who were executed on grounds of abandonment of post, desertion and negligence to war efforts. Outraging New Zealanders, they were later pardoned by the Great War Act of 2000.
Private John King
Unit: 1st Battalion, Canterbury Regiment
No.: 6/1598
John King, also known as Frank Hiller Needs, was born in Victoria, Australia on 18th of January 1885. He enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces on the 20th December 1914, as a 29 year old. He embarked on the 14th February 1915, serving in the First World War. King’s notability came as the one of 28 men who was court martialed and sentenced to death during the war and in particular King was one of five men who were sentenced to death for mutiny and desertion. Amongst this sentencing, King was also punished, mostly for his absence, by forfeit of pay and Field Punishment No.2 and was eventually declared a ‘deserter’ by the Court of Enquiry on the 3rd of July 1917. King was sentenced and executed on 19th August 1917. King now rests in Trois Arbres Cemetery, Steenwerck, Nord, France.
A New Zealand Legislation, of 2000, King, along with Private Braithwaite, Private Hughes, Private Spencer and Private Sweeney, were pardoned of their sentencing. The purpose of the act was to pardon the five soldiers and to ‘remove, so far as practicable, the dishonour that the execution of those 5 soldiers brought to those soldiers and their families.’ This pardon explicitly reveals a change in attitudes amongst modern New Zealanders and shows that execution was too severe to punish men who volunteered to fight for their country. Capital punishment, the ‘death penalty’ was abolished altogether in 1989 with it being abolished for murder in 1961. Comparing modern and past attitudes of execution, and severe punishments, perhaps in reasoning King had proved he wasn’t reliable to his post and did not take his role, in fighting for his country, seriously enough that they thought this punishment was sufficient. Through such exercise of execution, it would have also served as a deterrent to other men to not offend and desert their role in the war. Seeing what happened to King, it could have been a tactic to scare men into staying faithful to their role in the war. Effectively, Field Punishment effected the men through ending their lives, in extreme cases, making their lives difficult for their families (forfeit of pay) or having a waterfall effect on the other men into not doing what others had.
Pardon of Soldiers of the Great War Act 2000
The Pardon of the following five men directly reveals how attitudes of New Zealanders have changed from the 20th century to the 21st. As a nation prepared to fight in the war, modern day New Zealander's now recognise how punishments, used as disciplinary provisions, impact physically and physiologically; most notably through shell- shock. Military officers during the Great War saw such offences highly insulting on New Zealand's petition to serve Great Britain and to make an illustrious war effort. The purpose of the legislative Pardon of 2000 was to remove the title of dishonour for the families of these men and to determine that these men should not have been executed in such horrific circumstances.
Private John Sweeney
Unit: 1st Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment
No.: 8/1384
John Joseph Sweeney was born in Sprent, Tasmania, Australia on 2nd of April 1879. He enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces on the 11th October 1914, as a 35 year old. He embarked on the 14th December 1914 from Wellington New Zealand. Sweeney was noted ‘absent without leave’ on the 26th July 1916 and the Court of Enquiry declared Sweeney a ‘deserter’ on the 19th of August 1916 and sentenced him to death via execution. Sweeney later rejoined his battalion on 11th September 1916 and until 1st of October, was under close arrest. Sweeney was executed on 2nd October 1916 at 6.40am. Sweeney now rests in Dartmoor Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, Somme, France. Sweeney’s medals were issued to his family in 2005.
After Sweeney’s death, his father Bernad Sweeney (next of kin), contacted the Public Trustees in Wellington over receiving Sweeney’s remaining pay. It was debated whether Sweenery should receive pay when he rejoined his battalion on 11th September 1916. In a letter to The Controller and Auditor- General, from the Audit Office, Audit Examiner, R. J. Collins, proposed to the Controller & Auditor- General, J. J. Esson, ‘Under the circumstances and in absence of regulation I propose to give him credit for the pay while in custody. Do you agree?’ Mr Esson agreed ‘to give credit for this man’s pay whilst in custody’. It was also outlined under Section 138 of the Army Act and the Royal (Pay) Warrant, ‘pay is forefited, as a matter of course, for every day of absence either on desertion, or without leave; also for every day of imprisonment, detention, or field punishment, under sentence, or in custody under any charge resulting in conviction by a court-martial.’ This example reflects the idea that pay, whether forefited or deducted through offences, affected the soldier’s families and may not have been able to survive without the men’s intended pay. In effect, Sweeney’s parents lost a son who could have brought a regular income if he had not enlisted in the war and stayed in Australia. The financial strain and pressure felt by the family was only increased after his death. The need for Sweeney’s pay would have pushed Mr Sweeney to take action with the officials.
Private Frank Hughes
Unit: 2nd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
No.: 24/2008
Frank Hughes was born in Gore, New Zealand on 11th June 1888. He enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces on the 16th November 1915, as a 27 year old. He embarked on the 4th March 1916, from Wellington New Zealand. Hughes’ notability came as the first New Zealander to be sentenced to death after being found guilty of military crimes. Hughes, known as a heavy drinker, was troublesome for officials and was noted to ‘wander’ out of the trenches. Hughes was sentenced to one-year hard labour after a General Court-Martial found him absent without leave on 26th July 1916. His sentence was later suspended after a review. On 12th August 1916, Hughes appeared in front of a General Field Court-Martial at Armentières and pleaded not guilty to the charge of ‘Deserting His Majesty’s Service’. He was found guilty and sentenced to be shot on the 24th August 1916. Hughes was executed on 25th August 1916 at 5.50am and rests in a commoners grave in Hallencourt Communal Cemetery.
Hughes was a significant figure during the Great War as he personified the attitudes of New Zealand and military officials as non-tolerable to behaviour that threatened the role to fight for Great Britain. Those who did not conform, to the perceived view of Great Britain, were dealt with in a 'timely' manner. It is clear that military officials did not recognise the psychological strain of war efforts and it is obvious, through Hughes' drinking behaviour, that he both rebelled and coped with this through drinking.
Private John Braithwaite
Unit: 2nd Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment
No.: 24/1521
John Jack Braithwaite, was born in Dunedin, New Zealand on 3rd of January 1882. He enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces on the 29th May 1915, as a 31 year old. He embarked on the 8th January 1916 from Wellington New Zealand. Braithwaite, along with other Australian and Scottish prisoners of Blargies military prison in France, were accused of mutiny and provoking a strike in the prison. He was sentenced after a trail by the General Court- Martial for joining in mutiny. Braithwaite was executed on 29th October 1916. Braithwaite now rests in St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France
Unit: 1st Battalion, Canterbury Regiment
No.: 6/1598
John King, also known as Frank Hiller Needs, was born in Victoria, Australia on 18th of January 1885. He enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces on the 20th December 1914, as a 29 year old. He embarked on the 14th February 1915, serving in the First World War. King’s notability came as the one of 28 men who was court martialed and sentenced to death during the war and in particular King was one of five men who were sentenced to death for mutiny and desertion. Amongst this sentencing, King was also punished, mostly for his absence, by forfeit of pay and Field Punishment No.2 and was eventually declared a ‘deserter’ by the Court of Enquiry on the 3rd of July 1917. King was sentenced and executed on 19th August 1917. King now rests in Trois Arbres Cemetery, Steenwerck, Nord, France.
A New Zealand Legislation, of 2000, King, along with Private Braithwaite, Private Hughes, Private Spencer and Private Sweeney, were pardoned of their sentencing. The purpose of the act was to pardon the five soldiers and to ‘remove, so far as practicable, the dishonour that the execution of those 5 soldiers brought to those soldiers and their families.’ This pardon explicitly reveals a change in attitudes amongst modern New Zealanders and shows that execution was too severe to punish men who volunteered to fight for their country. Capital punishment, the ‘death penalty’ was abolished altogether in 1989 with it being abolished for murder in 1961. Comparing modern and past attitudes of execution, and severe punishments, perhaps in reasoning King had proved he wasn’t reliable to his post and did not take his role, in fighting for his country, seriously enough that they thought this punishment was sufficient. Through such exercise of execution, it would have also served as a deterrent to other men to not offend and desert their role in the war. Seeing what happened to King, it could have been a tactic to scare men into staying faithful to their role in the war. Effectively, Field Punishment effected the men through ending their lives, in extreme cases, making their lives difficult for their families (forfeit of pay) or having a waterfall effect on the other men into not doing what others had.
Pardon of Soldiers of the Great War Act 2000
The Pardon of the following five men directly reveals how attitudes of New Zealanders have changed from the 20th century to the 21st. As a nation prepared to fight in the war, modern day New Zealander's now recognise how punishments, used as disciplinary provisions, impact physically and physiologically; most notably through shell- shock. Military officers during the Great War saw such offences highly insulting on New Zealand's petition to serve Great Britain and to make an illustrious war effort. The purpose of the legislative Pardon of 2000 was to remove the title of dishonour for the families of these men and to determine that these men should not have been executed in such horrific circumstances.
Private John Sweeney
Unit: 1st Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment
No.: 8/1384
John Joseph Sweeney was born in Sprent, Tasmania, Australia on 2nd of April 1879. He enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces on the 11th October 1914, as a 35 year old. He embarked on the 14th December 1914 from Wellington New Zealand. Sweeney was noted ‘absent without leave’ on the 26th July 1916 and the Court of Enquiry declared Sweeney a ‘deserter’ on the 19th of August 1916 and sentenced him to death via execution. Sweeney later rejoined his battalion on 11th September 1916 and until 1st of October, was under close arrest. Sweeney was executed on 2nd October 1916 at 6.40am. Sweeney now rests in Dartmoor Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, Somme, France. Sweeney’s medals were issued to his family in 2005.
After Sweeney’s death, his father Bernad Sweeney (next of kin), contacted the Public Trustees in Wellington over receiving Sweeney’s remaining pay. It was debated whether Sweenery should receive pay when he rejoined his battalion on 11th September 1916. In a letter to The Controller and Auditor- General, from the Audit Office, Audit Examiner, R. J. Collins, proposed to the Controller & Auditor- General, J. J. Esson, ‘Under the circumstances and in absence of regulation I propose to give him credit for the pay while in custody. Do you agree?’ Mr Esson agreed ‘to give credit for this man’s pay whilst in custody’. It was also outlined under Section 138 of the Army Act and the Royal (Pay) Warrant, ‘pay is forefited, as a matter of course, for every day of absence either on desertion, or without leave; also for every day of imprisonment, detention, or field punishment, under sentence, or in custody under any charge resulting in conviction by a court-martial.’ This example reflects the idea that pay, whether forefited or deducted through offences, affected the soldier’s families and may not have been able to survive without the men’s intended pay. In effect, Sweeney’s parents lost a son who could have brought a regular income if he had not enlisted in the war and stayed in Australia. The financial strain and pressure felt by the family was only increased after his death. The need for Sweeney’s pay would have pushed Mr Sweeney to take action with the officials.
Private Frank Hughes
Unit: 2nd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
No.: 24/2008
Frank Hughes was born in Gore, New Zealand on 11th June 1888. He enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces on the 16th November 1915, as a 27 year old. He embarked on the 4th March 1916, from Wellington New Zealand. Hughes’ notability came as the first New Zealander to be sentenced to death after being found guilty of military crimes. Hughes, known as a heavy drinker, was troublesome for officials and was noted to ‘wander’ out of the trenches. Hughes was sentenced to one-year hard labour after a General Court-Martial found him absent without leave on 26th July 1916. His sentence was later suspended after a review. On 12th August 1916, Hughes appeared in front of a General Field Court-Martial at Armentières and pleaded not guilty to the charge of ‘Deserting His Majesty’s Service’. He was found guilty and sentenced to be shot on the 24th August 1916. Hughes was executed on 25th August 1916 at 5.50am and rests in a commoners grave in Hallencourt Communal Cemetery.
Hughes was a significant figure during the Great War as he personified the attitudes of New Zealand and military officials as non-tolerable to behaviour that threatened the role to fight for Great Britain. Those who did not conform, to the perceived view of Great Britain, were dealt with in a 'timely' manner. It is clear that military officials did not recognise the psychological strain of war efforts and it is obvious, through Hughes' drinking behaviour, that he both rebelled and coped with this through drinking.
Private John Braithwaite
Unit: 2nd Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment
No.: 24/1521
John Jack Braithwaite, was born in Dunedin, New Zealand on 3rd of January 1882. He enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces on the 29th May 1915, as a 31 year old. He embarked on the 8th January 1916 from Wellington New Zealand. Braithwaite, along with other Australian and Scottish prisoners of Blargies military prison in France, were accused of mutiny and provoking a strike in the prison. He was sentenced after a trail by the General Court- Martial for joining in mutiny. Braithwaite was executed on 29th October 1916. Braithwaite now rests in St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France
Private Victor Spencer
Unit: 1st Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment
No.: 8/2733
Victor Manson Spencer, was born in Invercargill, New Zealand on 12th of November 1894. He enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces on the 16th April 1914, as a 20 year old. He embarked on the 14th February 1915, serving in the First World War. Spencer spent an unrelenting 32 days on the front line without relief and consequently suffered from shell- shock. In his court-matrial Spencer said; "While in the trenches at Armentieres I was blown up by a Minnenwerfer and was in hospital for about a month, suffering from shell-shock. Up to this time I had no crimes against me. Since then my health has not been good and my nerve has been completely destroyed. I attribute my present position to this fact and to drink." Spencer was noted for walking off his post and was declared a deserter and executed on 24th February 1918. Spencer now rests in The Huts Cemetery, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
Spencer's example details how the men were effected and suffered from fighting in the front line. As a consequence of his battalion not having enough reinforcements and forcibly made to fight, he suffered psychologically and was eventually punished for it through losing his life.
Unit: 1st Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment
No.: 8/2733
Victor Manson Spencer, was born in Invercargill, New Zealand on 12th of November 1894. He enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces on the 16th April 1914, as a 20 year old. He embarked on the 14th February 1915, serving in the First World War. Spencer spent an unrelenting 32 days on the front line without relief and consequently suffered from shell- shock. In his court-matrial Spencer said; "While in the trenches at Armentieres I was blown up by a Minnenwerfer and was in hospital for about a month, suffering from shell-shock. Up to this time I had no crimes against me. Since then my health has not been good and my nerve has been completely destroyed. I attribute my present position to this fact and to drink." Spencer was noted for walking off his post and was declared a deserter and executed on 24th February 1918. Spencer now rests in The Huts Cemetery, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
Spencer's example details how the men were effected and suffered from fighting in the front line. As a consequence of his battalion not having enough reinforcements and forcibly made to fight, he suffered psychologically and was eventually punished for it through losing his life.