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By Peter Mulvany—Coordinator—Shot at Dawn Campaign Irl
The onset of the anniversary of the Great War invites critical debate on the period 1914-1918. However the experience of ALL the Shot at Dawn and their families would seem to have been sidelined in the cocophony of historical analysis being put out by various scribes and so called experts. Consequently, the following youtube video has been put up on the internet just to remind interested contributors of another side to the Great War, which was only resolved insofar as possible by the British Government in November 2006.
RTE Television - Shot at Dawn - Would You Believe - 9th November 2008:
A programme on Irish born British soldiers executed during the period of the Great War 1914-18 for military offences, was broadcast on RTE Television on the 9th of November 2008 to launch the RTE WW1 Commemorative project re Irish involvement in the Great War. All those executed for military offences were pardoned by the British Government in November 2006. See Youtube Video at link http://youtu.be/1oMLWlZwQO8
"Among the many tragedies of Britain's World War 1 experience is the story of the 306 men 'shot at dawn', 26 of whom were Irish. These men were executed on the field for various offences such as desertion or cowardice, but dubious courts martial eventually resulted in official UK government pardons.'Would You Believe' meets Dublin bus driver, Peter Mulvany of the the Irish Shot at Dawn Campaign which was instrumental in securing pardons for all 306 men. Reporter Mick Peelo travels to England to meet with some of the families of the dead soldiers who've lived through 90 years of stigma to finally see their war dead rehabilitated. These include 95-year-old Gertie Harris, the daughter of Private Harry Farr, executed though he had been hospitalised for five months for shell shock; and the O'Callaghan family, who rediscovered their lost ancestor Patrick Downey who'd been shot for disobedience after he failed to put on his cap. 'Would You Believe' also visits a new memorial to the executed men in Britain's National Memorial Arboretum".
In Remembrance of the Shot at Dawn:
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