Harry Farr
Private Harry T. Farr (1891 – 18 October 1916) was a British soldier who was executed by firing squad during World War I for cowardice at the age of 25.
On 17 September 1916, Farr did not comply with an order to return to the front line, and was subsequently arrested and charged with cowardice.
Unrepresented at his court martial, Farr was found guilty under section 4(7) of the Army Act 1881 and was sentenced to death.
After discovering details regarding the circumstance of his death—particularly that he suffered from shell shock and did not have a fair trial—his family began a campaign in 1992 to have him posthumously pardoned.
On 9 May 1915, shortly after Farr's battalion fought in the Battle of Aubers Ridge,[5] he was removed from his position at Houplines[9] and spent five months in hospital in Boulogne to recover from shell shock.
[10][11] His wife Gertrude recalled that while he was in hospital, it was evident he was suffering and nurses had to write letters on his behalf:[12] He shook all the time.
[16] On the morning of the 17th, Farr informed the regimental sergeant major, RSM Hanking,[17] that he was unwell and unable to fight.
[17][18] Farr was ordered to report for duty with a ration party transporting goods to the front line at around 8 P.M.,[6] but went missing shortly afterwards.
[22] A physical confrontation between the men ensued and Farr escaped, running back to the transport line where he was later discovered.
[23] The court martial was presided over by Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Spring, the Commanding Officer of the 11th (Service) Battalion of the Essex Regiment.
[6] Farr was unable to call a witness; the medical officer who had previously attended to him was injured and unavailable at the time of the trial.
[17][b] Acting Sergeant Andrews spoke in support of Farr, recounting his past medical complaints of nervousness.
[15] The court martial found Farr guilty of cowardice under section 4(7) of the Army Act 1881 and sentenced him to death.
[6] The transcript of the court martial, consisting largely of military terminology, runs to 1,353 words; of these, Farr spoke 445.
[33] They had discovered that some documents were being released by the government and, when they got hold of the court martial papers, they learned that Farr had been sent back to the front when he instead appeared to have needed urgent medical treatment.
[6] They, and the lawyers supporting Farr's case, believed that he had been suffering from shell shock or another related mental illness like post-traumatic stress disorder at the time of his trial.
[29] In 1993, the government refused a posthumous pardon for soldiers like Farr who had been shot for crimes including cowardice and desertion.
[20] Gertie Harris, Farr's daughter, was invited to speak to Tom Watson, the Minister for Veteran's Affairs at the Ministry of Defence.
[35] In August 2006, Harris was notified by the Secretary of State for Defence, Des Browne, that the Armed Forces Bill currently going through parliamentary scrutiny would bring about pardons for WWI soldiers.
[42] Speaking after the announcement of Farr's pardon, Gertie Harris expressed relief in knowing that her father had been recognised as a victim of the war, rather than a coward.
[45] Wessely writes that Farr was very likely experiencing "intense fear" on 17 September 1916, and was probably suffering from an illness like anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder.
[39] In June 2001, Farr's daughter Gertie Harris was invited to the opening of the Shot at Dawn Memorial in Staffordshire, which was built to commemorate the WWI soldiers executed by firing squad.
