Welsh Soldiers Executed by British Military Courts, 1914–1924

Death Sentences
Passed by Military Courts of the British Army 1914–1924 
(Gerard Oram, 2005)

In Death Sentences Passed by Military Courts of the British Army 1914–1924 (Gerard Oram, 2005), the author notes that during the First World War Britain condemned 3,080 of its own troops and executed 346, while Germany—despite having a much larger army—condemned 150 and executed 48. As the book states: “Britain during the duration of the First World War, condemned 3,080 of its own troops, and executed 346…”

These figures were originally published in the War Office, Statistics of the Military Effort of the British Empire During the Great War 1914–1920 (London, 1922).

Of the 346 British soldiers executed, 15 were Welsh. Their stories are summarised below.

The Welsh Men Shot at Dawn

George Henry Povey
Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium
credit - findagrave

Corporal George Henry Povey – Cheshire Regiment, 1^st Battalion

Executed 11^th February 1915 for quitting his post. Born 1891, Sealand, Flintshire, son of Robert Povey and Dinah Ashbrook, of 51 Primrose Street, Connah’s Quay. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.

Lance Corporal William Price & Private Richard Morgan – Welsh Regiment, 2^nd Battalion

Executed 15^th February 1915 for the murder of Company Sergeant Major Hugh Hayes.

William Price (left) & Richard Morgan (right
Bethune Town Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France
credit - findagrave

Both men were from the Rhondda. On 20 January 1915, after heavy trench‑digging in atrocious winter conditions near Béthune, Price and Morgan became drunk and shot CSM Hayes, a veteran of the Boer War. Hayes died the next day. Although the battalion war diary recorded Hayes’s death as heart failure, both soldiers were tried, found guilty of murder, and executed. Their intoxication was not considered a mitigating factor.

All three men—Price, Morgan, and Hayes—are buried at Béthune Town Cemetery.

Privates Major Penn & Albert Troughton – Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 1^st Battalion

Major Penn (left) and Albert Troughton (right)
Estaires Communal Cemeteru, Pas de Calais, France
credit - findagrave

Executed 22^nd April 1915 for desertion. Both are buried at Estaires Communal Cemetery, Pas‑de‑Calais.

Major Penn Born 1893, Stourbridge, son of Carmi(e) Penn and Keturah Butcher, of Pope Street, Smethwick. His brother Joseph was killed in action the following year.

Albert Troughton Born 1891, Foleshill, son of Nathaniel Troughton and Ann Elizabeth Warner, of 14 Ash Grove, Stoney Station Road, Coventry.

Private Charles William Knight – Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 10^th Battalion

Charles William Knight
Le GRand Hassard Military Cemetery,
Nord, France
credit - findagrave

Executed 15^th November 1915 for murder.

On 3^rd November 1915, Knight returned to his billet drunk, began thrusting at the wall with his rifle, and then fired wildly. He killed Private Edwards and wounded Private Poffley. Twenty‑five empty cartridge cases were found beside him; his rifle was red‑hot.

At trial, Knight—who had no prisoner’s friend—claimed he had felt unwell, experienced noises in his head, and saw “shadows on the wall.” His conduct sheet showed five charges of drunkenness in 14 months.

Born 1884, Fulham, son of Eliza Knight, of 25 Filton Street, Fulham. Buried at Le Grand Hasard Military Cemetery, Nord.

James Grist Carr
Auchel Communal Cemetery,
Pas de Calais, France
credit - findagrave

Private James Grist Carr – Welsh Regiment, 2^nd Battalion

Executed 7^th February 1916 for desertion and escape. Born 1895, Gloucester, son of James Grist Carr and Susannah Waters. Buried at Auchel Communal Cemetery, Pas‑de‑Calais.

Corporal Anthony O’Neil – South Wales Borderers, 1^st Battalion

Anthony O'Neil
Mazingarbe Communal Cemetery Extension,
Pas de Calais, France
credit - findagrave

Executed 30^th April 1916 for desertion. Born 1887, Neath, son of James Daniel O’Neil and Mary Ann Pugh, of 20 Castle Street, Neath. Buried at Mazingarbe Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas‑de‑Calais.

John Thomas
Mazingarbe Communal Cemetery Extension,
Pas de Calais, France
credit - findagrave

Private John Thomas – Welsh Regiment, 2^nd Battalion

Executed 20^th May 1916 for desertion.

Born 1872, Treorchy, son of Mrs M. Davies, Lampha, Pembroke. A married reservist with three children, aged 44, he argued at trial that he could not be expected to perform the same duties as much younger men and had believed he would serve behind the lines. Buried at Mazingarbe Communal Cemetery Extension.

Edwin Leopold Arthur Dyett
Le Crotoy Communal Cemetery,
Somme, France
credit - findagrave

Sub‑Lieutenant Edwin Leopold Arthur Dyett – Nelson Battalion, Royal Naval Division

Executed 5^th January 1917 for cowardice.

Born 1895, Cardiff, son of Commander Walter Henry Ross Dyett, R.N.R., and May Constance Kate Bird, of Rock Ferry, Cheshire.

During the Battle of Beaucourt (Somme, October 1916), Dyett became separated from his unit. After refusing an order from a junior officer, he moved to the rear and spent the night lost with other soldiers. A report was filed against him, leading to his arrest.

His trial at La Ferme du Champ Neuf was damning; although a plea for mercy was made due to his youth and inexperience, Haig confirmed the sentence. Buried at Le Crotoy Communal Cemetery, Somme.

George Watkins
Ferme-Olivier Cemetery,
West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
credit - finagrave

Private George Watkins – Welsh Regiment, 13^th Battalion

Executed 15^th May 1917 for desertion. Born 1885, Abersychan, son of Charles Watkins and Catherine (Kate) Driscoll. Buried at Ferme‑Olivier Cemetery, West‑Vlaanderen.

Private William Jones – Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 9^th Battalion

Executed 25^th October 1917 for desertion.

A stretcher‑bearer since July 1915, he already had a suspended death sentence for desertion. On 15^th June 1917, he disappeared while taking a wounded man to a dressing station. He surrendered in Bristol on 4 September, falsely claiming he had been wounded and evacuated.

Son of Thomas Jones and Margaret Emanuel. Buried at Locre Hospice Cemetery, West‑Vlaanderen.

Thomas Henry Basil Rigby
Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery,
Pas de Calais, France
credit - findagrave

Private Thomas Henry Basil Rigby – South Wales Borderers, 10^th Battalion

Executed 21^st November 1917 for desertion.

Born 1896, Shropshire, son of John Henry Rigby and Jane Bate, of 1 Bold Row, Worsley Road, Leverton, Manchester. A pre‑war Regular, he married Gladys May Lloyd Jones in 1915 and arrived in France five days later. He had previously received a suspended sentence for desertion and went absent again in August 1917. Arrested in Calais, he claimed he was worried about his wife’s health. Buried at Cité Bonjean Military Cemetery, Pas‑de‑Calais.

James Skone
Hersin Communal Cemetery Extension, 
Pas-de-Calais, France
credit - findagrave

Private James Skone – Welsh Regiment, 2^nd Battalion

Executed 10^th May 1918 for murder.

While under arrest for a brief absence, Skone shot and killed Lance Sergeant Edwin Williams in the trenches at Gorre, later claiming he had been drinking. Born 1879, Pembrokeshire, son of John Skone and Catherine Jones. Buried at Hersin Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas‑de‑Calais.

William Scholes
Borre British Cemetery,
Pas de Calais, France
credit - findagrave

Private William Scholes – South Wales Borderers, 2^nd Battalion

Executed 10^th August 1918 for desertion.

Already under a suspended death sentence for the same offence, Scholes deserted again, reportedly in protest at the small allowance paid to his widowed mother. Born 1893, Tottington, Manchester, son of Job Scholes and Mary Ann Ashworth. Buried at Borre British Cemetery, Pas‑de‑Calais.

Pardons and Memorialisation

Shot at Dawn Memorial
National Memorial Arboretum

Of the 346 British soldiers executed, 309 were posthumously pardoned under the Armed Forces Act 2006, implemented in 2007. However, Section 359(4) states that the pardon “does not affect any conviction or sentence.” The remaining 37 men, executed for murder, were not pardoned, as their offences would have been capital crimes under civilian law.

All the executed soldiers are commemorated at the Shot at Dawn Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum. The memorial depicts a young blindfolded soldier tied to a stake, surrounded by a semicircle of posts bearing the names of all those executed.