Canadian Shot At Dawn Memorial Association
In 2001 the Canadian Government acknowledged 23 Canadian soldiers who were executed for alleged desertion and cowardice in France and Belgium during World War One. Their names were added to the Book of Remembrance housed in Canada’s Parliament Buildings.
In September 2023, I invite you to follow along with me as I travel the battlefields, visit their graves and photograph historical sites.
My aim is to light a Pathway of Recognition and Acceptance for these men leading to permanent memorials to be situated in France and Belgium.
Des Canadiens Abattent à l’Aube Association Mémorielle
Voie d'Acceptation et de Reconnaissance
En 2001, le gouvernement de Canada a reconnu vingt-trois soldats canadiens qui ont été exécutés pour l’allégation de désertion et de lâcheté en France et en Belgique pendant la Première Guerre Mondiale. Leurs noms ont été ajoutés au Livre du Souvenir (« Book of Remembrance ») conservé dans le bâtiment du Parlement canadien.
En septembre 2023, je vous invite à me suivre pendant que je parcours les champs de bataille, visite leurs tombes et photographie les sites historiques.
Mon objectif est d’ouvrir la Voie d’Acception et de Reconnaissance pour ces hommes en vue de l’édification de mémoriaux permanents en France et en Belgique.
Garth Wetherall
Canadian soldiers names;
Fortunat Auger - Private - #23621 - Age 25 - 14th Battalion, 3rd Brigade - 1st Canadian Infantry Division - Desertion – Absent Without Leave for 3 days - Shot 03-26-1916 - Buried TROIS ARBRES CEMETERY, STEENWERCK Nord, France - III. H. 5.
James H. Wilson - Private - #10701 - Age 36 - 4th Central Ontario Battalion - 1st Brigade - 1st Canadian Infantry Division - Desertion - Shot 07-09-1916 - Buried POPERINGHE NEW MILITARY CEMETERY Belgium - II. H. 2.
Frederick Stanley Arnold - Lancer-Bombardier - #40124 - Age 26 - 1 Battery - 1 Brigade - Canadian Field Artillery - Desertion – Absent Without Leave – arrest in plain clothes - Shot 07-25-1916 - Buried BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY Pas de Calais, France - VIII. A. 137.
John William Roberts - Private - #107526 - Age 20 - 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles - 8th Brigade - 3rd Canadian Infantry Division - Desertion - Shot 07-30-1916 - Buried BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY Pas de Calais, France - VIII. A. 154.
Côme Laliberté - Private - #416874 - Age 23 - 3rd Toronto Battalion - 1st Brigade - 1st Canadian Infantry Division - Previously served with the 22e Battalion (service number #61703) from October 24, 1914 to March 3, 1915 and was released due to his conduct. He then re-enrolled with the 41st Battalion three days later, stated being born in Lotbinière in 1893 - Desertion – Arrested after refusing to follow orders - Shot 08-04-1916 - Buried POPERINGHE NEW MILITARY CEMETERY Belgium - II. H. 3.
Edward James Reynolds - Private - #404436 - Age 20 - 3rd Toronto Battalion - 1st Brigade - 1st Canadian Infantry Division - Desertion - Arrested after refusing to follow orders - Shot 08-23-1916 - Buried LONGUENESSE (ST OMER) SOUVENIR CEMETERY Pas de Calais, France - IV. A. 39.
Elsworth Young - Private - #67882 - Age 20 - 25th Nova Scotia Battalion - 5th Brigade - 2nd Canadian Infantry Division - Desertion - Shot 10-29-1916 - Buried Bully-Grenay Communal Cemetery, British Extension, Pas de Calais, France - II. B. 14.
Henry Hesey Kerr - Private - #457241 - Age 25 - 7th British Columbia Battalion - 2nd Brigade - 1st Canadian Division - Desertion – Absent for 24 hours - Shot 11-21-1916 - Buried QUATRE-VENTS MILITARY CEMETERY Pas de Calais, France - III. A. 9.
Maurice J. Higgins - Private - #177753 - Age 25 - 1st Western Ontario Battalion - 1st Brigade - 1st Canadian Infantry Division - Desertion – Absent for 16 days - Shot 12-07-1916 - Buried QUATRE-VENTS MILITARY CEMETERY Pas de Calais, France - I. B. 2.
Eugène Perry - Private - #416008 - Age 21 - 22nd Canadien Francais Battalion - 5th Brigade - 2nd Canadian Infantry Division - He enrolled in the 64th Battalion in Sussex, New-Brunswick, on September 25, 1915 with service number 470620. He was transferred to the 41st Battalion in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on October 16, 1915. He departed overseas on October 18, 1915 and was re-enlisted in Bramshott, England, on February 17, 1916, with service number #416008 - Desertion - Shot 04-11-1917 - Buried ECOIVRES MILITARY CEMETERY Pas de Calais, France - VI. C. 7.
Harold George Carter - Private - #454482 - Age 23 - 73rd Battalion -Desertion – Captured after 5 days - Shot 04-20-1917 - Buried VILLERS STATION CEMETERY Pas de Calais, France - X. A. 7.
Joseph Lalancette - Private - #672604 - Age 21 - Canadien Francais Battalion - 5th Brigade - 2nd Canadian Infantry Division - Desertion –Absent for 1 month - Shot 07-03-1917 - Buried AIX-NOULETTE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION Pas de Calais, France - I. F. 21.
Gustav Comte - Private - #448160 - Age 22 - 22nd Battalion, 5th Brigade, 2n d Canadian Infantry Division - Desertion – Absent for 6 weeks - Shot 07-03-1917 - Buried AIX-NOULETTE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION Pas de Calais, France - I. F. 20.
Dimitro Sinicky - Private - #830020 - Age 22 - Northern Ontario Battalion - 9th Brigade - 3rd Canadian Infantry Division - Cowardice – Arrested after refusing to follow orders - Shot 10-09-1917 - Buried ECOIVRES MILITARY CEMETERY Pas de Calais, France - VI. K. 19.
William Alexander - Company Quartermaster Sergeant - #20726 - Age 37 - 10th Battalion, 2nd Brigade - 1st Canadian Infantry Division - Desertion – Absent Without Leave for 2 days - Shot 10-18-1917 - Buried BARLIN COMMUNAL CEMETERY Pas de Calais, France - II. D. 43.
Thomas Lionel Moles - Private - #443288 - Age 25 - 54th Central Ontario Battalion - 11th Brigade - 4th Canadian Infantry Division - Desertion - Shot 10-22-1917 - Buried YPRES RESERVOIR CEMETERY
Edward Fairburn - Private - #227098 - Age 25 - 18th Western Ontario Battalion - 4th Brigade - 2nd Canadian Infantry Division - Desertion - Shot 03-02-1918 - Buried VILLERS STATION CEMETERY Pas de Calais, France - XI. B. 23.
Charles Welsh - Private - #A/38119 - Age 30 - 8th 90th Rifles of Winnipeg Battalion - 2nd Brigade - 1st Canadian Infantry Division - Desertion - Shot 03-06-1918 - Buried MAZINGARBE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION Pas de Calais, France - III. B. 12.
Harold Edward James Lodge - Private - #2095 - Age 21 - 19th Central Ontario Battalion - 4th Brigade - 2nd Canadian Infantry Division - Desertion – Absent for 5 weeks - Shot 03-13-1918 - Buried NOEUX-LES-MINES COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION. Pas de Calais, France - IV. B. 5.
Arthur Charles Dagesse - Private - #34453 - Age 31 - 22nd Canadien Francais Battalion - 5th Brigade - 2nd Canadian Infantry Division - Desertion - Shot 03-15-1918 - Buried LAPUGNOY MILITARY CEMETERY Pas de Calais, France - VIII B. 8.
Leopold Delisle - Private - #62218 - Age 25 - 22nd Canadien Francais Battalion - 5th Brigade - 2nd Canadian Infantry Division - Desertion - Shot 05-21-1918 - Buried BELLACOURT MILITARY CEMETERY Pas de Calais, France - II. J. 6.
Stephen McDermott Fowles - Private - #718566 - Age 21 - 44th Manitoba Battalion - 10th Brigade - 4th Canadian Infantry Division - Desertion - Shot 06-19-1918 - Buried VILLERS STATION CEMETERY Pas de Calais, France - XIII. B. 1.
Wilson Norman Ling - Private - #454610 - Age 22 - 2nd Eastern Ontario Battalion - 1st Brigade - 1st Canadian Infantry Division - Desertion - Shot 08-12-1918 - Buried CERISY-GAILLY MILITARY CEMETERY Somme, France - II. N. 20.
There where actually 25 Canadians executed during the Great War, but only 23 where pardoned.
Executed for Murder - No Pardon;
Alexander Butler - Trooper - #541 - Age 28 - Royal Canadian Dragoons - Shot 07-02-1916 - Buried Ribemont Communal Cemetery Extension, Plot IV, Row M, Grave 5.
Benjamin De Fehr - Driver - #2063 - Age 28 - 1st Canadian Reserve Park - Shot 08-25-1916 - Buried Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery, Plot I, Row A, Grave 13.
Since Alexander Butler and Benjamin De Fehr were executed for murder, it would be difficult at best to memorialize their names here even though I believe both cases were Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) related.
Canadians Shot at Dawn - Ages at Execution
Of the total number of twenty five (25) that were executed;
Sixteen (16) were born in Canada with the average age of 23 at execution.
Five (5) were born in England with the average age of 28 at execution.
Two (2) were born in the USA with the average age of 29 at execution.
One (1) Irish born aged 36 at execution.
One (1) Kiev, Russian Federation born aged 22 at execution.
All were serving with the Canadian Expeditionary Force .
For myself the real number is twenty six (26) if you include, Canadian born - 2nd Lt - Eric Skiffington Poole at the age of 30 who was serving with the British Army at the time of his execution. With this addition, the average age of 23 at execution remains the same for Canadian born.
The combined ages of all twenty six (26) Canadians delivers an average age of 25 at execution.
“Poppy Memorial” artwork to be carried “In Memory” across France and Belgium - September 2023 to all 23 soldiers graves that were Shot at Dawn.
Donated - Painted - by Arthur G. Brook, Cambridge, Ontario Canada
The Price I Paid
The ticking sound of the clock, no one can block,
tears filling my eyes as they looked at us with despise.
The taste of death fills the air, as my gaze is looking for someone who cares.
Was there anyone who would choose to remember me,
here in my final moments no one can I see.
Forever lost will be my voice, on this day I have no choice.
Maybe one day someone will come, remembering the unfair death that we paid, where my name will remain on a memorial laid.
I paid a price which took my life, leaving behind a widow now
who was my wife.
Standing here in this line, maybe one day my name will be remembered on a memorial that will tell the story of this moment in time.
Promise me that one day, someone will stand up to recognize the unfair price I paid, as all that will remain is my name on a memorial that will lay.
MaryAnn Slagter
Waterdown, Ontario Canada