Great War Stories: The Executed Five

A DigitalNZ Story by Great War Stories

Digital items relating the Great War Story video about Ettie Rout. Private Victor Spencer and Private Jack Braithwaite were two of 28 members of the NZEF sentenced to death during the First World War. Five of these men were sent before the firing squad: Spencer and Braithwaite, Private Frank Hughes, Private John Sweeney, and Private John King. Braithwaite was tried and executed by British military authorities for mutiny while the others were tried and executed by New Zealand authorities for desertion. In total 306 British and Commonwealth soldiers were executed after being convicted in courts-martial during the First World War. In September 2000 all five men received posthumous pardons when the New Zealand Parliament passed the Pardon for Soldiers of the Great War Act. See more Great War Stories here http://firstworldwar.govt.nz/great-war-stories