Shot At Dawn (Stereo Version Link on the right)

[Davidwcrozier]

James Crozier was my Great Uncle. While the Pardon was welcomed, there was no admission that many of those executed may in fact have been victims of shell shock. Thanks for this song.

[hengar23]

@Davidwcrozier i think an apology would be more appropriate than a pardon David. Thanks for the comment.

[swanningaround]

A disgrace. I can't stand the English. Murderous swne. They can fight their own battles.

[The1stPoster]

@swanningaround Don't talk about my country that you know nothing of you piece of shit. The same country that gave you the freedom and technology that you now use to insult us.

If there's anyone that deserves a swift execution it's scum like you. Now fuck right off son.

[starletdempsy]

I don't think they meant to abandon their fellow men in the army, they abandon the army because of fear. They didn't mean to hurt anyone or anything it was that they were scared. They couldn't take the mission with a complete brave heart and that's okay. Some people can do it and some people can't, but war is ugly and leaves everyone with horrid feeling. Poor boys.

[LizzieCornish]

Wonderful song. If you google 'Harry Farr Myspace' you'll find a page I made in memory of Harry and all the other young men who died. This was inspired by Reg Meuross's tender song '...and Jesus Wept'...and it contains details of how Harry's family fought so hard to get him pardoned..and all the other soldiers who were so brutally murdered. May they all rest in peace. Thank you for a superb film and song. - Lizzie

[hengar23]

Thank you for your thoughts and for taking the time to post Lizzie, it is greatly appreciated. I'm looking forward to sitting down one evening and reading through your Myspace page; it looks like you have put a lot of effort into it. Have you ever had any direct communication with Harry's relatives, I would be interested to know? - Gary

[LizzieCornish]

Hello there, Gary.

Yes, I was put in touch with Janet, Harry's grandaughter..a really lovely lady. There was talk of a film being made about Harry and the other lads who so tragically lost their lives this way. It was due to be made by Milos Forman (of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest fame) I don't know if that is still in the pipeline though. I certainly hope so.

[ant259]

It's a terribly sad story and you have to have every sympathy with those shot for desertion, cowardice etc. However I now believe they were right to shoot them. Of course, you could have felt sorry for each man and let them off, but not if you wanted to actually win the war.

Hundreds of thousands of young men were also inexperienced and frightened, but they did their duty. Let's remember them instead.

[clivetemple]

Thoughtful. Very minor point, I believe the men at 1:46 are Australians and no Australian was shot for desertion in WW1. On another note the most trajic of all cases was the use of 'decimation' by the French against Algerian troops. A subject almost completely 'forgotten' by the French government.

[ajfroaolcom]

Great piece! Music, photos... everything was excellent!

[hengar23]

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a glowing comment.

[gavboy7771]

Rewriting history is always very dangerous. Fact is at least half of the 300 odd men executed deserved to die because they endangered the lives of their fellow soldiers, and in such a brutal war examples needed to be made of these men otherwise fear would have spread, there would have been massed desertions and we'd all be speaking German today. Yes it was tragic that some clearly shellshocked men were shot, but then all war is tragic

[clivetemple]

You should read more on the individuals.

[acidsunrise]

the british government should never be pardoned for this

[hengar23]

What got me was the shocking length of time for the then Defence Secretary Des Browne to seek a "pardon" from parliament. It should have been a no brainer.

[RockyII5]

harry farr wasn't executed for desertion he was executed for misbehaving on the front lines in a way that might show the enemy cowardice.

[KlaasFI]

Great song.

[hengar23]

Thank you

[peoplecan1965]

Great song, and a very good vid, who wrote the song.

[hengar23]

Thanks for your comment and for taking the time to leave it. My name is Gary Hendry and I wrote the song a year or so ago when the Shot at Dawn campaign was getting quite a lot of media attention.

[akaso405]

who is singing this?

[hengar23]

My name is Gary, hope you liked it.

[akaso405]

you sound kind of sound like jeff buckley. I liked it. I wonder why I got -1 on that comment!?

[hengar23]

That was a mistake and then I couldn't change it! Thanks for the comment it's a great compliment. i enjoyed the physics lecture on your site, it was thought provoking and entertaining. I'll check your page out in future. Cheers

[ultradumbass]

i got a few questions. was the photo where you were seeing a guy get tied up a real photo, or was it like a screen shot from a shot at dawn movie? were the 2 guys standing in front of tents as well shot? and at 1:16, is the guy in the white shirt suppose to be harry farr before he got shot?

[hengar23]

I think the sillouette photo was a movie promo. Harry Farr is at 37 secs, but I see what you mean about the guy in the white shirt, there is a similarity but I don't think it's him though.

[ultradumbass]

and i thought the guy being shown being tied may be him, because in the angle, the hair of the condemned sticks out like harry's.

[peoplecan1965]

Thanks for replying, great song that needs to be heard by the wider public, have you ever thought of down loading it.

[hengar23]

I have thought about making my stuff available on peer to peer sites, do you have any recommendations?

[peoplecan1965]

Hi, try LIMEWIRE, ARES, MY SPACE, you just need to search the net, good luck,

[tomo26690]

Try Ares its the safest p2p site i know of and use compared to sites like limewire that are full of viruses or what you could do is post it on facebook or myspace. great song it says what needs to be said i feel that not enough youths know enough about what went on and what are grandparents went through im 17 but i will always have respect for my elders who feel our generation is full of thiefs and chavs (hooligans) and respect for those who died for our country so we could b ere 2day

[hengar23]

Sounds good, thanks for the comments and sharing your thoughts.

[ultradumbass]

executions are so bullshit! it proves the generals are too lazy to find a more creative and merciful way to punish someone.

[hengar23]

Thanks for the video response,

gary

[ultradumbass]

my name is david but good guess:D

[jjmcg23]

Heavy duty, but very effective - great song as well :)