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| Law pardons Great War servicemen | Law pardons Great War servicemen |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A new law has pardoned more than 300 servicemen executed for breaches of discipline during World War I. | |
| The measure is included within the Armed Forces Act which gained Royal Assent on Wednesday. | |
| The government says the law, which was included when the bill was passed through the Lords, is intended to remove the dishonour of execution. | The government says the law, which was included when the bill was passed through the Lords, is intended to remove the dishonour of execution. |
| It does not cancel sentences or convictions and does not apply to servicemen convicted of murder. | It does not cancel sentences or convictions and does not apply to servicemen convicted of murder. |
| The group pardon was announced in August and was approved without a vote as part of the Armed Forces Bill. It will also have to be approved by MPs. | The group pardon was announced in August and was approved without a vote as part of the Armed Forces Bill. It will also have to be approved by MPs. |
| Defence Secretary Des Browne said: "This is not about rewriting history. I do not want to second guess decisions made by the commanders at the time. | Defence Secretary Des Browne said: "This is not about rewriting history. I do not want to second guess decisions made by the commanders at the time. |
| "I believe it is better to acknowledge that injustices were clearly done in some cases - even if we cannot say which - and to acknowledge that all these men were victims of war. | "I believe it is better to acknowledge that injustices were clearly done in some cases - even if we cannot say which - and to acknowledge that all these men were victims of war. |
| "I hope that pardoning these men will finally remove the stigma with which their families have lived for years." | "I hope that pardoning these men will finally remove the stigma with which their families have lived for years." |
| Mixed views | Mixed views |
| In a Commons debate on Tuesday night, Labour's Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock), who led the campaign, told MPs: "This is my proudest moment to support this amendment." | In a Commons debate on Tuesday night, Labour's Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock), who led the campaign, told MPs: "This is my proudest moment to support this amendment." |
| Tory Lord Tebbit had criticised the move, saying last month that some of those getting pardons would not deserve them. | Tory Lord Tebbit had criticised the move, saying last month that some of those getting pardons would not deserve them. |
| It is thought 306 British soldiers were shot for cowardice, desertion or other offences during the 1914-1918 war. | It is thought 306 British soldiers were shot for cowardice, desertion or other offences during the 1914-1918 war. |
| They included Private Harry Farr from Kensington, west London, who was 25 years old when he was shot at dawn in 1916 after refusing to return to the front line. | They included Private Harry Farr from Kensington, west London, who was 25 years old when he was shot at dawn in 1916 after refusing to return to the front line. |
| His family had always argued that the soldier, of the 1st Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, was suffering from shell shock at the time. | His family had always argued that the soldier, of the 1st Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, was suffering from shell shock at the time. |