OTTAWA, ON, January 15, 2002 - The National Council of Veteran Associations (NCVA) has today forwarded a resolution to Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, requesting that the names of the 23 soldiers who were executed under the British Army Act in the First World War not be included in the Books of Remembrance.

Cliff Chadderton, Chairman of the 40-member NCVA, stated that the resolution arose from what he termed the "storm of protest" received in the Ottawa offices of NCVA following the announcement by the Veterans Affairs Minister Ron Duhamel on December 11, 2001, to the effect that the Canadian Government regretted that the soldiers were executed, and that their names would be placed in the World War I Book of Remembrance which rests in the Peace Tower of the Parliament Buildings.

It was admitted by Chadderton that there may have been some executions which were not deserved. He stated, however, that his research had indicated that a great many of the executions were warranted, having regard for the disciplinary policies of the British Army Act under which Canadians were engaged for combat in World War I.

The NCVA resolution cited several of the charge sheets including:

• one soldier had deserted his post thus failing to be in a position to warn his comrades of an impending gas attack and trench raid, in which some Canadians were killed;
• ... the accused left his platoon ... remained absent until apprehended by the French police behind the fighting area 16 days later ... escaped and remained absent till again apprehended five days later, and
• ... the accused absented himself from the support trenches ... found in billets, some miles in rear, 24 hours later, thereby avoiding dangerous duty ... this man's conduct was extremely bad ... on one occasion in the trenches only on threat of being immediately shot would he leave his dugout to carry out his duties ... comrades on the last occasion in the trenches ... asked that he might be left behind in future ... he continually threatened to shoot officers and NCOs.

A copy of the NCVA resolution is appended hereto: 

RESOLUTION: Canadian Soldiers Executed under the British Army Act - World War I 

DATE: January 15, 2002 

WHEREAS the announcement of the Canadian Government indicated that the names of those executed would be placed in the Books of Remembrance; and

WHEREAS the Books of Remembrance are held sacred by Canadians, as indicated by the remarks in the Frontispiece to the World War I Book of Remembrance; and

WHEREAS in dedicating the site in which the Books rest, the late Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden stated that the names were: "...testaments to the valour, sacrifice and unselfishness of those who died"; and

WHEREAS the records in regard to the charges which were brought against these men are incomplete, we are including herewith the "charge sheets" which are taken from our own files; and

WHEREAS there has been considerable confusion in regard to the results, or effect, of the SHOT AT DAWN campaign by Mr. J. Hipkin in the United Kingdom, we would wish to advise that the British Government did not grant pardons; and

WHEREAS arrangements were apparently made by the SHOT AT DAWN campaign for a type of war cemetery (with an oversized statue of an executed soldier, blindfolded and with his hands tied, and a post naming each of the soldiers executed by the British Government); and

WHEREAS this so-called tribute has been the subject of some derision by persons resident in the United Kingdom, although it must be stated that a much lesser manifestation of sympathy was shown; and

WHEREAS in the opinion of a great many veterans, the so-called "Hipkin cemetery" has done much to reflect unfavourably upon those who were executed; and

WHEREAS the Canadian Government's announcement expressing regret has resulted in considerable unfavourable comment in the media; and

WHEREAS the action of the New Zealand Government should be taken into account by the Canadian Government:

• The New Zealand Government passed an Act of Parliament in 2000.
• Such Act was considered contrary to the British Army Act of 1914, but the Act was specific in stating: "Act to bind the Crown."
• This Act extended pardons to five soldiers of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force who were executed after trial by court martial.
• The New Zealand Government presumably recognized that a pardon could not be granted if an offence had been committed and sentence promulgated; thus, the Act mitigated this point by stating that the "effect of the pardons" had resulted from:

  a) the harsh discipline that was believed at the time to be required; b) the application of the death penalty for military offences being seen at that time as an essential part of maintaining military discipline; and

• In reply to my enquiry addressed to the New Zealand High Commissioner in Canada, I was advised as follows: "Although the New Zealand Pardons Act pardoned the five New Zealand soldiers executed under the authority of the British Army Act of 1914, there have been no other practical consequences flowing from that decision."

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the National Council of Veteran Associations requests that the Canadian Government reconsider the decision to place the names of the executed soldiers in the Canadian Books of Remembrance for military personnel of World War I.

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if, in view of the Government's announcement of December 11, 2001, the names are to be added, no special event or emphasis be placed on any action under which the names are added to the Books of Remembrance, as such would only lead to further embarrassment for the families and, presumably, controversy with a great many veterans.

Prepared by: H. Clifford Chadderton, CC, O.Ont., OStJ, CLJ, CAE, DCL, LLD, Chairman