There are reports saying that a few hundred soldiers in WWI shot for cowardice are being considered for a full pardon due to it being a possibility they had post-traumatic stress- I personally think they bottled it either way and the decision should stand... any other thoughts?

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I think they should be pardoned. Just being in that war was traumatic enough. it was a terrible situation and the conditions were horrific. people take in different ways and its cruel to execute someone like that. what good comes of it? your a few hundred soldiers down.

But anyway i think by not pardoning them your allowing that stigma to hang over the families and the embarrasment surrounds their memory. But by pardoning them its not harm to anyone and all the family benefit.

So yes they should be pardoned.

I can see your point but there are more pressing issues than someone's ego. I wouldn't hold it against the family for someone who was shot for cowardice best part of 100 years ago

Its not an ego thing. its the knowing that your loved one was executed for being a 'coward' and almost like saying that person wasn't fit to represent the country..

Answer this - who benefits from these people NOT being pardoned?

there maybe someone out their so that question isn't rhetorical. so if you can think of someone who actually beneifts from the current situation i'd like to here it. I doubt there is anyone though.

Wait, wait, so a bunch of people were shot dead because they were thought to be cowards some 90 years ago, and now it comes out that they may have been shell-shocked, and there are people that are actually against giving them a pardon?

Why?

Exactly. I saw this in the Sydney Morning Herald the other day, and as usual the whole idea of executing someone for cowardice filled me with rage.

Cowardice, another flaw in the idea of war I suppose.

I have to admit, that the conditions in WWI bred PTS. Our understanding of it has evolved a lot in the last couple years and it's been proven that even the most psychologically healthy person can only withstand about 100 days of intense and prolonged stress before they crack and succumb to PTS.

The conditions of the trenches in WWI were the perfect breding ground for PTS, having to be constantly alert, gas attacks coming randomly, not to mention having to charge out of the trenches or defend against a charge, the shelling, the smell... 3 months of that and anyone there usually succumbed. It got ot the point where even the officers realized this and would rotate out men on the front line to more support duties further from the front for a month at a time before sticking them back into the trenches.


I'm heartily in favor of them being pardoned.

I find my opinion moderated to the point of whether they were conscripted or if they volunteered. The former case a full pardon is in order, the latter nothing is due.

So if they volunteered for war, went to war, got shell shocked or "Post Tramatic Stress whatever" due to the fact that this was a totally new type of war with horrible new weapons by decades old tactics and they broke down you......still think that the record should stand they were shot for cowardice?

Why?

Because I'm mean.

Well its their fault if they can't stand the heat, they shouldn't be in the kitchen. They willingly (hopefully, hence the word volunteer) signed up for their King and Country, and cowards get in the way. I'm sorry but I have no pity. It's like deliberately falling over and expecting someone to help you back up.

So the fact that this war totally changed the face of war, not like anything fought before, the fact that certainly at the start of this war there was no reguard for human life in any form in compared to the types of weapons being used, the fact that being shell shocked was not even understood, and the fact that Post Tramatic Stress isn't at all being a coward, doesn't mean a single thing to you?

Its like saying we shouldn't help the mentally ill because they are just too stupid. Its just not true. I mean, you do understand what Post Tramatic stress is right? Its a newly caused mental problem, it is NOT manifestation of a pre-existing psychological weakness on the part of the patient.
You're using a though process of someone with the understanding of illness from the 1800s.

You are aware of the complete lack of information people had about the idea of war, aren't you? You're not making idiotic judgements about people who's circumstances you aren't aware of, are you?

And besides, if the death penalty were suited to anything, being a coward certainly wouldn't be on that list.

Frankly, no.

And why do you choose to ignore facts?

its madness to not want them to be pardon. you don't gain a thing from them keeping the record as it stands.

weel the 344 people who were shot were pardoned this week. their children and grandchildren proudly marched through Central london along with the other families of those who have fallen for their country.

Looks like the right decision was made.

Aye. Its good to see that logic wins over.... whatever the hell the other side claims is on their side.
I mean, there is no real argument to the opinion that "No, we shouldn't do it" other than being totally blind to all of the facts of mental and medical knowledge.