The Independent from London, Greater London, England • 5

THE INDEPENDENT WEDNESDAY16AUGUST2006 HOME Hundreds of soldiers shot for 'cowardice' to be pardoned Mr Browne, who had expressed sympathy for the cause before taking over as Defence Secretary in May, was prepared to look at Pte Fair's case in the wider context of the whole posthumous pardon issue. Last night, Mr Browne announced that all soldiers would be pardoned, "I do not want to second guess decisions made by commanders In the field, but tircumstances were terrible," he said, I believe it isbetter to acknowledge injustices were clearly done in some cases, even if we cannot say which and to acknowledge that all these men were victims of war." It was not clear whether those shot for murder would be included in the pardon. law firm Irwin Mitchell, said: "This rightlyacknow-tedges that Pte Farr was not a coward but an extremely brave man. Having fought for two years practically without respite in the trenches, he was very obviously suffering from a condition we now would have no problem diagnosing as post-traumatic stress disorder, or 'shell shock' as it was known in 1916." Janet Booth, Pte Fair's granddaughter, said: "We dont know if it's a full or a conditional pardon yet I'm so happy for my mother and for everyone" The family had been appealing against a High Court decision not to grant a conditional pardon posthumously. In 1998, John Reidj then Armed Forces minister, turned down calls for executed soldiers to be pardoned.

Again, in June 2004, the then Defence Secretary, Geoff Hoon, refused to grant a pardon to Pte Farr, but the family sought a judicial review. Earlier this year it emerged that Mr Reid, as Defence Secretary, was reconsidering the decision, June this year, the Ministry of Defence said that have always argued that my father's refusal to rejoin the front line, described in the court martial as resulting from cowardice, was in fact the result of shell shock, and I believe that many other soldiers suffered from this, not just my father. I hope that others now who had brave relatives who were shot by their own side will now get the pardons they equally deserve." talion, the West Yorkshire Regiment, died on 16 October 1916, one of 306 British and Commonwealth soldiers executed for cowardice during the First World War. He served in France for two years, fighting at Neuve-Chappelle. His battalion was shelled repeatedly, and he collapsed with the shakes in May 1915.

He was briefly evacuated to Boulogne suffering shell shock, but after returning to the front line and surviving the Battle Of the Somme, where 420,000 British soldiers died in battle, he refused to go over the. top, saying: I just cannot goon." Medical evidence, both at and after the court martial, showed he was treated By Genevieve Roberts Pte Harry Farr, phot for cowardice during the First World War, is to granted a pardon posthumously. His pardon came as Des Browne, Minister of Defence, said all 306 soldiers executed during the First World War for cowardice and military offences would be issued a group pardon. Mr Browne said that the Armed Forces Bill will be amended. "Although this is am conscious of how the families of these men feel today.

They have had to endure a stigma for decades. That makes thisamoral issue too, and having reviewed it, I believe it is appropriate to seek astetutory pardon," he said. Pte Farrsi family have fought for 14 years to clear his name, arguing that the soldier, from Kensington in London, who was 25 years old when he was executed for refusing to fight, had shell shock. His daughter, Gertrude Harris, aged 93, said: "lam so relieved that this ordeal is now over and I can be content knowing that my father's memory is intact I Private Harry Farr fought In the Battle of the Somme, but later refused to fight, saying: i can't go on' pa Gertrude Harris: Daughter who fought for pardon several times due to being "sick with nerves" and suffering "shell His descendants have argued that his eventual refusal to return to the front was a direct result of the mental stress caused by warfare, After Pte Farr's execution, an Army chaplain's message, to his widow, Gertie Batstone, read: "A finer soldier never lived" He told the family Pte Farr had refused a blindfold when he was shot, Because of his supposed "cowardice" his military pension was stopped and Ms Batstone was forced out of their house, Representing Mrs Harris, John Dickinson, from give We' you 60 ffoir Farr case opens way for First World War victims youir home and its contents I the night hoping to get sleep and intended to return to the Army in the morning. "My father is a prisoner in Ger- many he said, "My mother died while I was still in England, leaving my sister aged 13 and my 11 Following the par-LJ don of Pte Harry Farr, Secretary for Defence Des Browne has said he will issue a group pardon for the 306 soldiers shot at dawn for alleged desertion and cowardice in the First World War These soldiers include Pte Thomas Highgate from the Royal West Kent Regiment, the first British soldier to be convicted of desertion and executed during the First World War.

On 8 September, 1914 brother aged 10. 1 am the I only one left. I had to Ptes Highgate, left, and Nelson will also receive pardons leave them in charge of a All you need to do is call now Switch your home and contents insurance to HSBC and you will receive at least 60 off your renewal quote, subject to a minimum annual premium of 101 after discount. We'll aim to provide cover on an equivalent basis to your current policy. You'll also benefit from: An interest-free monthly repayments option Replacement 'as new' on all contents" Immediate cover provided in most cases Claims usually settled over the phone -without the need to complete a daim form.

neighbour, had no intention of deserting9 His defence did not receive sympathy. On 11 August 1916, he was shot the Durham Light Infantry, was shot at the age of 20. He deserted the Army three time. At the court martial, he said he had left for his trial took place. He was not provided with a "Prisoner's Friend" (defending officer).

Another soldier, Pte William Nelson, from Genevieve Roberts Chelsea tractors' suffer slump in sales Call 0800 051 6611 HSBCX The world's local bank i Issued by HSBC Bank pic. This offer is only available to new HSBC home insurance customers who switch their home insurance to HSBC at renewal. HSBC home insurance is underwritten by Norwich Union and is subject to their normal underwriting criteria. Proof of renewal premium will be required. Replacement 'as new' on all contents except on clothes and household linen.

This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion or offer. Offer only available via telephone. We will aim to provide cover on an equivalent basis to your existing policy. Offer subject to cover being provided on a like-faHike basis. Lines are open 8am 8pm Monday to Friday, 9am 5pm Saturday and Sunday.

AC3622 pared with the present 8. And the all-party Commons Environmental Audit Committee has recommended that road tax should be increased to 1,800 for the dirtfest vehicles some nine times the present rate. Emily Armistead, of Greenpeace, said: "It's encouraging that sales of 4x4s have slowed for the first time. It shows Britain may at last be turning its back on climate-wrecking cars. Sales of 4x4s in America to cut a dash on the school run, sales have dipped.

A total of 106,196 were sold in the first seven months of 2006, compared with 106,732 in January-July 2005. Green activists see it as the first sign that their campaign to make the vehicles unpopular has begun to pay off. The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, is preparing a 25 congestion charge in the capital for cars with high carbon emissions, com have slumped 28 per cent in a year, prompting General Motors to announce a slowdown in production of the vehicles. But in Britain, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders believes that green activists maybe celebrating too soon. A spokesman pointed out that the dip in sales of4x4s in the first six months of 2006 was only 01 per cent, compared with total car sales, which were down 4.2 per cent.

By Barrie Clement Transport Editor Critics have denounced them as vulgar, obese, thirsty and flatulent. And now Britain's love affair with gas-guzzling 4x4 cars may be finally evaporating in a cloud of smoke, For the first time since the so-called "Chelsea tractors emerged as the vehicle of choice for footballers' wives and parents anxious.