Letter: Tough justice in the trenches

Sir: The matter of the execution of servicemen for alleged cowardice, desertion and related offences in the First World War ("Labour pardon for war 'cowards' ", 27 May) is bound to elicit sympathetic reactions from members of the public with no real knowledge or experience of active service.

The fact is being ignored that in only 10 per cent of courts martial cases in the First World War in which the death sentence was given, was the sentence carried out. It is normal procedure for the verdict and the sentence of a military court martial to be reviewed by a senior officer. Clearly, in 90 per cent of the cases the reviewing officer considered that either the evidence called for clemency, or the accused had not received a fair trial.

Anthony Bevins and Steve Boggan highlight a case in which a soldier "as young as 19", was executed. Age, colour and creed are irrelevant. All service personnel are equal as members of a team dependent upon each other for their individual safety in an operation.

L W WRIGHT

Captain (Ret'd)

The Parachute Regiment

Ipswich, Suffolk