List of New Zealand soldiers executed during World War I

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The following soldiers serving on the Western Front with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force were executed for military offences during World War I. The executions, carried out by firing squad, were not made public at the time. All five were posthumously pardoned on 14 September 2000, when New Zealand's Pardon for Soldiers of the Great War Act became law. The bill was presented by Mark Peck, Member of Parliament for Invercargill. The vote was 112 for the motion and five against.

Contents

List

NameAgeUnitExecutedOffenceNotes
Frank Hughes282nd Bn,
Canterbury Regt
25 Aug 1916DesertionPoor military and disciplinary record, deserted en route to the front. [1] [2]
John Sweeney371st Bn,
Otago Regt
2 Oct 1916DesertionAn Australian, born in Tasmania. His brother died on the Western Front in 1918, while his father committed suicide in 1925, just before details of his execution were made public. [3] [4]
John Braithwaite 312nd Bn,
Otago Regt
29 Oct 1916MutinyPrior to the war, he had worked as a journalist in Australia. After being incarcerated for repeatedly being AWOL, he was accused of instigating a prison riot, although he claimed that he only involved himself to assist in break it up. [5] [6]
John King321st Bn,
Canterbury Regt
19 Aug 1917DesertionHad a long record of going absent, desertion and illness; possibly an alcoholic. [7]
Victor Spencer 231st Bn,
Otago Regt
24 Feb 1918DesertionDeserted from near the front line. A Māori engineer in a non-Māori pioneer unit, shell-shocked in July 1915. [8]

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References

  1. Pugsley, pp 104–121; Putkowski, pp 104–105; PRO: WO 213/10
  2. https://nzhistory.govt.nz/page/first-new-zealand-soldier-executed First New Zealand Soldier Executed
  3. Pugsley, pp 122–135; Putkowski, p. 117; PRO: WO 213/11
  4. "Tale of tunneler Sweeney highlights terrible darkness of war". The Sydney Morning Herald . 2014-04-24. Archived from the original on 2021-08-01.
  5. Pugsley, pp 136–146; Putkowski, pp 126–127; PRO: WO 90/6; Personal service record, Jack Braithwaite
  6. https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3b44/braithwaite-john John Braithwaite Biography
  7. Pugsley, pp 167–184; Putkowski, pp 184–186; PRO: WO 213/16
  8. Pugsley, pp 185–205; Putkowski, pp 53–54; PRO: WO 213/20

Sources