December 13, 2001 - The Government of Canada is planning to make room in the sacred Books of Remembrance in the Peace Tower in Ottawa for the names of 23 World War I soldiers who were convicted of cowardice or desertion.

The National Council of Veteran Associations (NCVA) has written to Veterans Affairs Minister Duhamel objecting to this inclusion. The impropriety is based on the fact that the Canadian Government did not have the intestinal fortitude to grant pardons as was done in New Zealand.

Minister Duhamel has stated that it is not possible under Canadian law to grant such pardons. On the other hand, the New Zealand Government several years ago pardoned five New Zealanders who were shot under the very same authority – The British Army Act of 1914.

The World War I Book of Remembrance contains the following preamble:

Here are recorded the names of the Canadians who, loyal to the Crown & faithful to the traditions of their fathers . . . served in the Canadian & other forces of the British Empire, and . . gave up their lives in the Great War . . . . 1914 - 1918.

Let us examine the charge against one member who deserted his post and caused the death of some of his comrades:

Private _____ was detailed as a lookout. He had been a troublesome soldier. It was nighttime and the German gas attack commenced just after midnight. His comrades, who were attempting to get some sleep in trenches 25 yards behind the lookout post, were caught unawares by the gas attack, and later by a bayonet attack by Germans. The action of Private ______ in deserting his post left his comrades without any warning of the devastating German trench raid. Several were killed.

One has to wonder when a member of a future generation goes to look up a name in the Books of Remembrance, can he be sure that he is looking at the name of a war hero or a man convicted of cowardice?

When Prime Minister Robert Borden was dedicating the site for the Books of Remembrance, he stated that the names were "testaments to the valour, sacrifice and unselfishness of those who died." We see no objection if, like New Zealand, the Canadian Government grants a pardon to these soldiers. If, on the other hand, the Canadian Government only expresses regret that they were shot for cowardice and desertion, surely, we have a new definition of courage.

Sincerely,

H. Clifford Chadderton, CC, O.Ont., OStJ, CLJ, CAE, DCL, LLD
Chairman, National Council of Veteran Associations in Canada, Ottawa