"Shot at Dawn" statue
This statue is the centre piece of a poignant and moving memorial to the 306 British and Commonwealth soldiers who were executed by firing squad for alleged cowardice or desertion in the First World War (1914-1918). It depicts a blindfolded soldier tied to a post.
For each there is a named post to represent the post that many were tied to for execution.
Courts Martial were brief and no one had heard of shell shockor battle fatigue. The army wanted to “make an example” so a guilty verdict was inevitable. Their widows were denied a pension and their names were excluded from war memorials.
In August 2006 a government minister announced the intention to seek a “group pardon” for them.
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