2017 Battlefield Tour Page 07

Laying a poppy cross at the grave of 7429 Pte Herbert Morris of the British West Indian Regiment. He was from St. Catherine in Jamaica. Herbert was shot at dawn for desertion on Thursday 20 September 1917 at Poperinghe Town Hall, aged 17. He is buried in Poperinghe New Military Cemetery. Grave No. II.F.45......The terms 'shell shock', 'battle fatigue', 'severe psychological trauma' or 'PTSD' were not recognised one hundred years ago during WW1. The authorities worked on the assumption that cowardice and desertion lowered morale of the troops so inflicted the heaviest of punishments to deter others. The cemetery contains the graves of 15 other soldiers who were shot at dawn including three who were executed at Poperinghe Town Hall and also the first officer to be executed, 2 Lt. Eric Poole of 11 Bn West Yorkshire Regt...On 8 Nov 2006 the Government issued an official pardon to all 306 British soldiers executed during the Great War....RIP

Philip Pickford After My Visit To Poperinge.....Painted This......