Shot at Dawn memorial honours WWI soldiers wrongly executed for cowardice
Shot at Dawn, a newly refurbished tribute at the National Memorial Arboretum, honours the memories of hundreds of soldiers who were wrongly executed during the First World War for cowardice or desertion.
Located in East Staffordshire, the memorial pays tribute to the 309 soldiers who were shot by their own side - and were later pardoned.
"This deep and meaningful memorial vividly depicts a tragic tale, full of lessons that remain relevant to this day," said Philippa Rawlinson, director of the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA).
The memorial's wooden stakes, which paid tribute to the soldiers, have now been replaced with new posts made from durable, recycled material.
"Shot at Dawn is easily one of our most iconic memorials, with many of our visitors regularly remarking on the powerful symbolism at the heart of this tribute to the 309 soldiers from Britain and across the Commonwealth who were executed during the First World War," said Ms Rawlinson.
"We have received an incredible response to our public appeal for funds to help preserve this memorial for future generations, ensuring that the stories of these young men will never be forgotten."
Other offences which carried the death penalty included striking a senior officer, disobeying a lawful order, casting away arms, mutiny and sleeping at one's post.
Most of the soldiers who were shot were sentenced after a short trial at which no real opportunity for defence was allowed.
Many soldiers executed for cowardice are today believed to have been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), at the time known as shell shock.
One of those soldiers was 25-year-old Private Harry Farr, who was diagnosed with shell shock during the conflict and was executed in 1916 after seeking help from a medical officer and then refusing to return to the front.
A campaign led by his granddaughter Janet Booth led to Pte Farr and the other 308 soldiers being pardoned in 2006.
The memorial is located near the River Tame, and Shot at Dawn is the first memorial to be touched by the sun's rays at dawn.
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