My grandad was sent home for convalesence with shell shock. He returned to his unit and was then wounded at Passchendaele.
Although he didn't get the shakes again, he suffered from nightmares for the rest of his life and never talked about what happened except in superficial terms.
In one of my favourite TV drama's Upstairs Downstairs, the footman/Valet Edward is hospitalised with shell shock and evenually goes AWOL before returning to his unit. I know it's only a fictional account but its played pretty well. Some of the shakes though in that programme were truely excessive.
What is incredible for me is that as has been said, it was not recognised at the start of the war and some were shot for cowardice, but even when acknowledged, they just patched them up and sent them back. I am thankful we live in different times.
[cite]Posted By: Addickted[/cite]DOWNING Thomas Pte 10555 6/S Lancs Sleeping 19/02/1917
BURTON Robert Pte 10912 6/S Lancs Sleeping 19/02/1917
These are the only two who were shot for sleeping whilst on sentry - over twenty of there comrades were killed during a raid that they should have prevented. Most soldiers on sentry duty used to rest there heads on their bayonnet - if they dropped off, then the point would wake them up.
I believe only 19 people were executed for cowardice.
A lot of those people shot for 'desertion' had committed far more serious crimes.
The last person shot (4 days before the armistice) was Ernest Jackson of the Royal Fusiliers - he had deserted three times previously and only on his fourth attempt was he tried and executed.
Very true about the officers though - only one was executed - Sublatern Edwin Dyett. I recently read a book about his story, which included letters to and from home ('I'm in a little bit of bother farther, but nothing to worry about')and in his case, it certainly was a miscarriage of justice. Fascinating insight into the whole process of trial, conviction and execution. Dyett was in the Nelson Battalion of the Royal Navy and had been trying to get away from front line duty for some time because of his nervous disposition. He got lost for a day between the front line and his battalion HQ trying to deliver a messge and waited at his HQ for the rest of his battalion to return. Somone he had crossed previously reported him for deserting his post and it escalated from there.
I'm sure there were quite a few cases like him.
I am sure there was a film about a soldier who was shot for desertion but I can't rememeber the name of the film.
Comments
Although he didn't get the shakes again, he suffered from nightmares for the rest of his life and never talked about what happened except in superficial terms.
In one of my favourite TV drama's Upstairs Downstairs, the footman/Valet Edward is hospitalised with shell shock and evenually goes AWOL before returning to his unit. I know it's only a fictional account but its played pretty well. Some of the shakes though in that programme were truely excessive.
What is incredible for me is that as has been said, it was not recognised at the start of the war and some were shot for cowardice, but even when acknowledged, they just patched them up and sent them back. I am thankful we live in different times.
I am sure there was a film about a soldier who was shot for desertion but I can't rememeber the name of the film.
Breaker Morant was an excellent film about an Aussie executed during the Boar war
p.s if Ralph actually does get shot I am at work with a water tight alibi
What sort of dream is that ? Oh.........
;o)