Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1918-05-16
or enclosed cNurrN,Eru.

VI tuCtOSeu courtyard.
The dawn was breaking and the
rain had ceased.
In front of US were four stacks of
rifles. three TO a stack.
The officer brought us to attention
and gave the order TO unpile arms. We
each took rifle. Giving us "Stand at
ease" in nervous and shaky voice,
he informed:
Men, you are here on very solemn
duty. You have been selected as a
firing squad for the execution of soil
der, who, having been found guilty
of q grievous crime against king and
country, has been regularly and duly
tried and sentenced to be shot at 3 :2S
a. IN. this date. This sentence has been
approved by the reviewing authority
and ordered carried out. 1t is our duty
TO carry on with the sentence of the
court.
There are twelve rifles, one OF
which contains a blank cartridge, the
other eleven containing ball cartridges.
Every man is expected TO do his duty
and fire to kill. Take your orders from
me. Squad-'Shun !"
We came to attention. Then he left.
My heart was of lead and my knees
shook
After standing at attention" for
what seemed week, though in reality
it could not have been over five min
utes, we heard n low whispering in our
rear and footsteps on the stone flag
ging of the courtyard.
Our officer reappeared and in low,
but firm voice, ordered:
"AbOut-Turn
We turned about. In the gray light
of dawn, few yards in front of me,
could make out brick wall. Against
this wall was a dark form with white
square pinned ON its breast. We were
supposed to aim at this square. To the
right of the form noticed white spot
on the wall. This would be my target.
Ready Aimi Fire"
The dark form sank into a huddled
heap. My bullet sped on its way, and
hit the whitish spot on the wall; /
could see the splinters fly. Some one
else had received the rifle containing
the blank cartridge but my mind was
at ease, there was no blood of
Tommy on my hands.
"Order-Arms About-Turn Pile
Arms Stand-Clear."
The stacks were reformed.
"Quick = March Right - Wheel"
And we left the scene of execution be-
hind us.
1t was now daylight. After march
ing about five minutes, we were dis
missed with the following instructions
from the officer In command:
Return, alone, to your respective |
companies, and remember, no talking
about this affair, or else 1t will go hard
with the guilty ones"
We needed no urging to get away. l
did not recognize any of the men on
the firing squad even the officer was
stranger to me.
The victims relations and friends in
Blighty will never know that he was
executed; they will be under the i'm
preston that he died doing his bit for
king and country.
In the public casualty lists his name
will appear under the caption "Acci-
dentally Killed" or Died"
The day after the execution / re-
ceived orders to report back to the
line, and to keep still tongue in my
head.
Executions are part of the days
work, but the part we hated most of
oil L frIr ft,lu 40
British war department is thought by
many people to be composed of rigid
re gulations all wound around with red
tape. But 1t has a heart and one of
the evidences of this is the considerate
way in which an execution is concealed
and reported to the relative of the I'M
fortunate man. They never know the
truth. He is listed in the bulletins as
among the accidentally killed"
In the last ten years l have several
times read stories in magazines of
towards changing, in a charge, to he
'oes. used to laugh at it. 1t seemed
Easy for stOry-writers, but l said,
Men aren't made that way.p But over
u France | learned once that the
streak of yellow can turn all white. |
picked up the story, bit by bit, from
he captain of the company, the SEN
.ries who guarded the poor fellow, as
we'll as from my own observations. At
irst did not. realize the whole of his
story, but after a week of investiga-
ion it stood out as clear in my mind
is the mountains of my native West in
he spring sunshine. 1t impressed me
10 much that | wrote it all down in
est billets on scraps of odd paper.
The incidents are, as l say, every bit
rue; the feelings of the man are true
Il know from all 1 underwent in the
lighting over in France.
We will call him Albert Lloyd. That
wasn't his name, but 1t will do:
Albert Lloyd was what the world
erms a coward.
L. Il. Ill |