Haig son slams WW1 pardons move

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Ex-Colditz Prisoner of War George Haig, 88, whose father signed a number of the death warrants, said many of those executed were "rogues" and "criminals" who deserved to be shot.

Ministers announced last month their intention to put before Parliament a statutory group pardon for all soldiers who faced firing squads for cowardice during the First World War.

If passed by Parliament, the proposal will be included in the Armed Forces Bill.

But talking for the first time about the controversial move, the 2nd Earl Haig said: "It was a terribly sad situation and some of these soldiers were genuinely shell-shocked.

"But many were rogues, persistent deserters and criminals, or they were guilty of cowardice."

Speaking from his family country house in Melrose, in the Scottish Borders, the honorary president of the Royal British Legion Scotland added: "They had to be made an example of.

"I know my father took enormous trouble to consider the merits of each case before authorising any execution. It wasn't a decision he took lightly.

"The soldiers all faced awfully grim conditions on these battlefields but some were more stoical than others and fought on bravely.

"This is history and we should respect the decisions taken by commanders at the time as they knew best."

The Government's decision to pardon the executed men followed a long-running campaign spearheaded by the relatives of Private Harry Farr, who was shot for cowardice during the conflict aged just 25.

His family had always claimed the soldier, who fought at the Battle of the Somme, had been suffering from shell-shock.

Labour MP Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock), who has championed the pardons campaign, hit back at the 2nd Earl Haig's comments, saying: "I'm astonished he's got the audacity to put his head above the parapet on this one.

"The fact is these men did not get a fair trial. They were not allowed time to prepare their case or to call witnesses.

"And their death warrants were signed, without possibility of appeal, by this man's father."
end