While just over 300 British soldiers were executed for capital offences during the First World War, 5 New Zealand soldiers were executed: four for desertion and one for mutiny. THE COURTS MARTIAL SYSTEM AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS EXECUTED 1914-1918 CANADIAN SOLDIERS EXECUTED 1914-1918 UK SOLDIERS EXECUTED 1914-1918 The service papers for New Zealand soldiers can be view… Continue reading NZ Executed WWI
Author: Stephen
Christie and Evans
John Reginald Halliday Christie was a 54 year old serial murderer and sexual psychopath. His evidence at the trial of Timothy Evans helped find Evans guilty and his subsequent execution. In 1965, Timothy Evans received a posthumous pardon. POSTHUMOUS PARDONS. John Reginald Halliday Christie was born on 8 April 1899, in Halifax, Yorkshire. The 1901… Continue reading Christie and Evans
Bourne End War Mem.
Bourne End is a village in Hertfordshire, situated between Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead. There was a rail disaster at Bourne End on 30 September 1945 when an overnight sleeper train from Scotland to London Euston was derailed causing 43 deaths and 64 injuries. Bourne End’s name comes from the Bourne Gutter which flows into the… Continue reading Bourne End War Mem.
Bayeux Cemeteries
Bayeux is located seven kilometres from the coast of the English Channel and 30 km north-west of Caen. The city, with elevations varying from 32 to 67 meters above sea level – with an average of 46 meters above sea level – is bisected by the River Aure. The area around Bayeux is called the… Continue reading Bayeux Cemeteries
Humane Society Medals
Until the British Government introduced gallantry awards for saving life, it was left to private individuals and organisations to reward those people who had risked their life to save other people. One such organisation that was established is the Royal Humane Society: https://royalhumanesociety.org.uk/ THE ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY The Royal Humane Society was formed in 1774… Continue reading Humane Society Medals
Police & Fire Gallantry
This article is concerned with the gallantry medals that were introduced specifically for the Police and Fire services. Members of these two services are also eligible for the award of civilian gallantry awards such as the George Cross, George Medal and Queen’s Gallantry Medal. THE QUEEN’S FIRE SERVICE MEDAL The Queen’s Fire Service Medal was… Continue reading Police & Fire Gallantry
Queen’s & Sea Gallantry
This article is about the two gallantry medals that follow the George Medal in order of precedence: The Queen’s Gallantry Medal (QGM) and the Sea Gallantry Medal (SGM) respectively. QUEEN’S GALLANTRY MEDAL The Queen’s Gallantry Medal was introduced on 20 June 1974 to award acts of bravery by civilians, although it can be awarded to… Continue reading Queen’s & Sea Gallantry
UK Gallantry Medals
Until the establishment of the government’s own gallantry awards for saving life, it was left entirely to private individuals and companies to provide their own recognition to those people who risked their own life to save other people. The first Government issued award to commemorate people who risked their life to save others was the… Continue reading UK Gallantry Medals
St. Mary’s Apsley
St. Mary’s Apsley End Church (Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire) is another example of a local church with war grave headstones in the churchyard. THE FIRST WOLRD WAR G/48463 Private Ernest Finch was a member of the 23rd Labour Company, The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment. The 1911 Census provides the following information about Ernest Finch: Born… Continue reading St. Mary’s Apsley
Arnhem
Arnhem is a city and municipality situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located on both banks of the rivers Nederrijn (Lower Rhine) and Sint-Jansbeek, which was the source of the city’s development. Arnhem was first mentioned as such in 893 as Arneym or… Continue reading Arnhem