Free Executed at Dawn by David Johnson

he was involved in the League of Nations Union and then turned to pacifism, becoming a founder member of the Peace Pledge Union. How much did this have to do with his involvement with executions during the war and after it?
    Even more disturbing would be the thought that he was attempting to deny prior personal knowledge of James and the fact that, as James’ battalion commander, he did not recommend that his sentence should be commuted and instead recommended the death sentence. There is possibly some substance to this: why did he feel the need to keep up the pretence in a book written in 1937? By then Mrs Crozier knew James’ fate and had already experienced the repercussions from her son being executed.
    A further worrying aspect of this story is that at about the same time that Private Crozier deserted, a subaltern by the name of Rochdale (this could be Brigadier Crozier disguising the name of the officer concerned because in other documents he is named as Lieutenant Arthur Annandale) committed the same offence. Crozier considered that the officer’s desertion was made worse by him having displayed cowardice in front of his men. Rochdale was charged and, much to Crozier’s dismay, he learned that he ‘was to be released from arrest and all consequences’. When it was suggested that Rochdale be returned to his battalion, Brigadier Crozier refused to accept Rochdale back, saying, ‘the least said about this the better, except to remark that had justice been done according to our code, regrets would have been fewer than in the case of [Crozier].’ Despite the blatant inequality of treatment right under his nose, Brigadier Crozier did not hesitate to recommend the death penalty for Private Crozier.

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    The notes given to Guilford set out the following instructions for the firing squad, and it is against these that the experiences of those involved will be discussed:

    To consist of an Officer, 1 Sergeant and 10 men of the prisoner’s unit. The sergeant will not fire. The Officer will be present at the promulgation of the sentence to the prisoner and will on that occasion receive from the APM any instructions as necessary. He will previously instruct the firing party as to their duties, impressing on them that the most merciful action to the prisoner is to shoot straight.
    Rifles will be loaded by the Officer i/c Firing Party and will be placed on the ground. One rifle will be loaded with a blank. Safety catches will be placed at safety. Distance from post 5 paces. The Officer will bring with him a loaded revolver.
    The firing party will be marched into position by the APM whilst the prisoner is being tied to the post. The APM will so time this that the firing party will be ready for action simultaneously with the completion of the tying up.
    The firing party will march in two ranks, halt on the rifles, turn to the right or left, pick up the rifles and come to a ready position, front rank kneeling, rear rank standing. They will press forward safety catch and come to the ‘present’ on a signal from the APM. The Officer, when he sees all the men are steady, will give the word ‘fire’. This is to be the only word of command given after the prisoner leaves the place of confinement.
    When the firing party has fired, it will be turned about and marched away at once by the Sergeant, the Officer remaining behind.

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    Private William Holmes, of the 12th Battalion, London Regiment (Arthur, 2002), wrote of how he and his colleagues drew lots to determine the four who would make up the firing squad for two men who were to be executed for desertion. The four men were then organised into pairs, and were told that one of them had to fire at the head of their designated prisoner and the other at his heart. There is no suggestion in this case that any blank ammunition was used.
    Arthur (2002) has included the extract from Holmes in his chapter for 1917, but these same recollections are also included in