Twenty-two Canadian
soldiers were executed by fire squad during the First World War for
Desertion. One was shot for cowardice. They are commemorated on Page
598 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.
1. Company Quarter Master
Sergeant William Alexander
20726, age 37: William was born September 18, 1880 at London, England.
A rubber worker, he enlisted September 24, 1914 at Valcartier, Quebec.
His next-of-kin listed on his attestation papers was A. M. Alexander of
Winnipeg. William was serving overseas with the 10th Battalion,
2nd Brigade, 1st Canadian Infantry Division (Alberta Regiment)
when he was absent without leave for two days and charged with
desertion. William was executed October 18, 1917 and was buried in the
Barlin Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
2. Bombardier Frederocl Stanley Arnold
40124, age 26: Frederick was born April 28, 1890 at Cleveland, Ohio
USA, the son of Mrs. Catherine Arnold. A stockman, he enlisted
September 22, 1914 at Valcartier, Quebec. While overseas, he married
May who lived in England. Frederick was serving with the 1 Battery, 1
Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery when he was absent without leave,
arrested in civilian clothing and charged with desertion. Frederick was
executed July 25, 1916 and was buried in the Boulogne Eastern
Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
3. Private Fortunat Auger 23621, age 25:
Fortunat was born December 23, 1890 at Montreal, Quebec, the son of
Joseph Auger. An architect, he enlisted September 23, 1914 at
Valcartier, Quebec. Fortunat was serving overseas with the 14th
Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Canadian Infantry Division (Quebec
Regiment) when he was absent without leave for three days, arrested and
charged with desertion. Fortunat was executed March 26, 1916 and was
buried in the Trois Arbres Cemetery, Steenwerck, Nord, France.
4. Private Harold George Carter
454482, age 23: Harold was born March 20, 1894 at Toronto, Ontario, the
son of Milly and George Harold Carter. A teamster, he enlisted March 3,
1915 at Lindsay, Ontario. Harold was serving overseas with the 73rd
Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment) when he was absent
without leave, captured after five days and charged with desertion.
Harold was executed April 20, 1917 and was buried in the Villers
Station Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
5. Private Gustave Comté
448160, age 22: Gustave was born February 24, 1895 at Montreal, Quebec,
the son of Joseph Comté. A grinder, he enlisted September 19,
1915 at Valcartier, Quebec. Gustave was serving overseas with the 22nd
Battalion, 5th Brigade, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division (Quebec
Regiment) when he was absent without leave, captured after six weeks
and charged with desertion. Gustave was executed July 3, 1917 and was
buried in the Aix-Noulette Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais,
France.
6. Private Arthur Charles Dagesse
(enlisted under Degasse) 34453, age 31: Arthur was born September 17,
1886 at New Bedford, Massechusetts USA, the son of Mrs. A. Dagesse. A
cook, he enlisted May 9 (?), 1914 at Valcartier, Quebec. While
overseas, he married Nettie Marion who lived at Wimbledon, England.
Arthur was serving with the 22nd Canadian Francais Battalion, 5th
Brigade, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division (Quebec Regiment) when he was
absent without leave and charged with desertion. He was executed March
15, 1918 and buried in the Lapugnoy Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais,
France.
7. Private Léopold Délisle 62218, age 26:
Léopold was born January 28, 1892 at Montreal, Quebec, the son
of Hectorine Larose and Philippe Délisle. He enlisted in April
1915. Léopold was serving overseas with the 22nd Canadian
Francais Battalion, 5th Brigade, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division (Quebec
Regiment) when he was absent without leave and charged with desertion.
He was executed May 21, 1918 and buried in the Bellacourt Military
Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
8. Private Edward Fairburn
227098, age 22: Edward was born September 21, 1895 at St. Catharines,
Ontario, the son of Jane and Franklin Fairburn. A machinist, he
enlisted November 22, 1915. Edward was serving overseas with the 18th
Battalion, 4th Brigade, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division (Western Ontario
Regiment) when he was absent without leave and charged with desertion.
He was executed on March 2, 1918 and buried in the Villers
Station Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
9. Private Stephen McDermott Fowles
718566, age 21: Stephen was born June 13, 1897 at Winnipeg, Manitoba,
the son of Sarah (nee Florence) and Stephen Fowles. A farmer, he
enlisted February 16, 1916 at Winnipeg. Stephen was serving overseas
with the 44th Battalion, 10th Brigade, 4th Canadian Infantry Division
(New Brunswick Regiment) when he was absent without leave and charged
with desertion. He was executed June 19, 1918 and buried Villers
Station Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
10. Private John Maurice Higgins
177753, age 25: John was born September 26, 1891 at Charlottetown,
Prince Edward Island, the son of Emma and David Higgins. A moulder, he
enlisted November 23, 1915 at Montreal, Quebec. John was serving
overseas with the 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Canadian Infantry
Division (Western Ontario Regiment) when he was absent without leave
for 16 days and charged with desertion. He was executed December
7, 1916 and was buried in the Quatre-Vents Military Cemetery, Pas de
Calais, France.
11. Private Henry Hesey Kerr
457241, age 25: Henry was born September 4, 1891 at Montreal, Ontario,
the son of Lizzie and Henry Kerr. A teamster, he enlisted June 10, 1915
at Montreal, Quebec. Henry was serving overseas with the 7th Battalion,
2nd Brigade, 1st Canadian Division (British Columbia Regiment) when he
was absent without leave for 24 hours and charged with desertion. He
was executed November 21, 1916 and was buried in the Quatre-Vents
Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
12. Private Joseph LaLancette
672604, age 21: Joseph was born September 1, 1895 at London, Ontario,
the brother of Marie Anne LaLancette. A tailor (?), he enlisted June
10, 1916 at Quebec. Joseph was serving overseas with the 22nd
Battalion, 5th Brigade, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division (Quebec
Regiment) when he was absent without leave for one month and charged
with desertion. He was executed July 3, 1917 and buried in the
Aix-Noulette Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais, France.
13. Private Come LaLiberté
416874 (61703), age 23: Come was born March 24, 1893 at Lotbiniere,
Quebec, the son of Eugenie Hamel and Luger and LaLiberté.. A
labourer, he enlisted March 5, 1915 at Montreal, Quebec. Come was
serving overseas with the 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Canadian
Infantry Division (Central Ontario Regiment) when he refused to follow
orders and was arrested for desertion. He was executed August 4, 1916
and buried in the Poperinghe New Military Cemetery, Belgium.
14. Private Wilson Norman Ling
454610, age 22: Norman was born July 15, 1896 at Toronto, Ontario, the
son of Fanny and Albert E. Ling. A steamfitter, he enlisted May 7, 1915
at Lindsay, Ontario. Wilson was serving overseas with the 2nd
Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Canadian Infantry Division (Eastern Ontario
Regiment) when he was absent without leave and charged with desertion.
He was executed August 12, 1918 and was buried in the Cerisy-Gailly
Military Cemetery, Somme, France.
15. Private Harold Edward James Lodge
2095, age 20: Harold was born December 22, 1897 at Toronto, Ontario,
the son of Ida and Edward Lodge. A driver, he enlisted April 15, 1915
at Ottawa, Ontario. Harold was serving overseas with the 19th
Battalion, 4th Brigade, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division (Central Ontario
Regiment) when he was absent without leave for five weeks and charged
with desertion. He was executed March 13, 1918 and was buried in the
Noeux-les-mines Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais, France.
16. Private Thomas Lionel Moles
443288, age 25: Thomas was born November 17, 1891 at Somerset, England,
the son of Louisa Mudford (formerly Moles) and John Moles. A rancher,
he enlisted July 21, 1915 at Vernon Camp, BC. Thomas was serving
overseas with the 54th Battalion, 11th Brigade, 4th Canadian Infantry
Division (Central Ontario Regiment) when he was absent without leave
and charged with desertion. He was executed October 22, 1917 and buried
in the Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, Belgium.
17. Private Eugene Perry
416009, age 21: Eugene was born April 1, 1896 at Bouctouche, New
Brunswick, the son of Caroline and Germain Perry. A labourer, he
enlisted October 16, 1915 at Bramshott, NB. Eugene was serving overseas
with the 22nd Battalion, 5th Brigade, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division
(Quebec Regiment) when he was absent without leave and charged with
desertion. He was executed April 11, 1917 and buried in the Ecoivres
Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
18. Private Edward James Reynolds
404436, age 20: Edward was born January 2, 1896 at Toronto, Ontario,
the son of Mary Reynolds. A teamster, he enlisted April 12, 1915 at
Toronto, ON. Edward was serving with the 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade,
1st Canadian Infantry Division (Central Ontario Regiment) when he
refused to follow orders and was arrested for desertion. He was
executed August 23, 1916 and buried in the Longuenesse (St. Omer)
Souvenir Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
19. Private John William Roberts
107526, age 20: John was born August 5, 1893 (1895) at St. John’s
(Kings Cove), Newfoundland, the son of Mrs. M. Roberts. A cook with
five years experience with the British Navy, he enlisted February 5,
1915 at Victoria, BC. He was discharge April 20, 1915. John, now
recorded as a sailor with four years experience in the Naval Reserve,
enlisted again on May 26, 1915. He was serving overseas with the 2nd
Canadian Mounted Rifles, 8th Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division
(British Columbia Regiment) when he was absent without leave and
charged with desertion. He was executed July 30, 1916 Boulogne Eastern
Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
20. Private Dimitro Sinizki
(enlisted under Sinicky) 830020, age 22: Dimitro was born September 25,
1895 at Kievsk, Russia, the son of Efrosin Sinizki. A labourer, he
enlisted December 3, 1915 at Winnipeg, MA. Dimitro was serving with the
52nd Battalion, 9th Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division (Manitoba
Regiment) when he refused to follow orders and was arrested for
cowardice. He was executed October 9, 1917 and buried in the Ecoivres
Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
21. Private Charles Welsh
A/38119, age 29: Charles was born June 3, 1889 at Chester, England, the
son of Mary Jane Welsh. A sailor, he enlisted February 10, 1915 at Port
Arthur, ON. Charles was serving overseas with the 8th Battalion, 2nd
Brigade, 1st Canadian Infantry Division (Manitoba Regiment) when he was
absent without leave and charged with desertion. He was executed March
6, 1918 and buried in the Mazingarbe Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas
de Calais, France.
22. Private James H. Wilson
10701, age 37: James was born June 10, 1879 at Limerick, Ireland. A
labourer with nine years of experience with Connaught Rangers, he
enlisted September 22, 1915 at Valcartier, Quebec. James was serving
overseas with the 4th Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Canadian Infantry
Division (Central Ontario Regiment) when he was absent without leave
and charged with desertion. He was executed July 9, 1916 and was buried
in the Poperinghe New Military Cemetery, Belgium.
23. Private Elsworth Young
67882, age 19: Elsworth was born June 2, 1895 at Halifax, NS, the son
of Emma Young. A miner, he enlisted November 26, 1914 at Halifax, NS.
Elsworth was serving overseas with the 25th Battalion, 5th Brigade, 2nd
Canadian Infantry Division (Nova Scotia Regiment) when he was absent
without leave and charge with desertion. He was executed October 29,
1916 and buried in the Bully-Grenay Communal Cemetery, British
Extension, Pas de Calais, France.
To learn more about these soldiers follow the links below.
Soldiers
of the First World War: Hosted by the Library and Archives of
Canada, a searchable database of Attestation Papers images for
Canadians who served in the First World War.
Canadian
Virtual War Memorial: Hosted by Veterans Affairs Canada, a
searchable database for Canadians who were killed during all wars and
during peacekeeping missions.
Canadians Shot at Dawn, 1914
- 1918: A detailed explanation of the Shot at Dawn project has
progressed.
Shot at Dawn Project:
The original home of Shot at Dawn with details of all those around the
world who were executed during the First World War.
Wikipedia:
Further details on each man executed in the Canadian Military during
the First World War.
