Last Canadian Shot at Dawn
Private Wilson Norman Ling twice convicted of desertion in the Great War, the last Canadian Shot at Dawn in August of 1918. He enlisted under the name of Norman Ling.
Private Wilson Norman Ling 454610 son of Albert E and Fannia Ling, of Toronto, Ontario, enlisted 7 May 1915 at Lindsay, Ontario.
Enlistment of Wilson Norman Ling
Wilson Norman Ling enlisted at Lindsay, Ontario on 7 May 1915. He stood 5′ 6″ tall, with fair complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair. Just shy of 19 years of age.
Disciplined
From July 1915, Ling reprimanded several times, twice forfeiting pay, and once placed in detention, October 1915.
Ling’s ToS by the 39th Battalion at West Sandling on 24 November 1915.
Private Wilson Norman Ling entered France on 15 March 1916.
Ling reported missing 22 June 1916, but later found with his unit.
Wounded
Pte Norman Ling wounded, to hospital on 22 September 1916, later rejoining his unit on 28th October.
Missing
Missing from 5 October 1916, and later believed to be killed, but Ling soon reported as safe with his unit.
Sentenced to Death
Private Wilson Norman Ling tried and convicted by FGCM, and to be Sentenced to Suffer Death by Being Shot for Desertion, 2 January 1917.
Sentence commuted, admitted to No 5 Military Prison, Les Attaques, for 2 Years Hard Labour, 28 January 1917.
Hospitalized
To No 30 General Hospital, Calais, NYD, 30 March 1917 and later discharged to Military Prison on 9 June 1917.
Private Wilson Norman Ling’s sentence suspended, 16 June 1917, and entrained for unit.
Missing 320 Days
Pte Ling rejoined his unit on 20th June, but AWOL from 9 am on 21 June 1917 at Neuville-St-Vaast.
Missing for 320 days, apprehended by Military Police at Les Brebis, 7 May 1918. Handed over to the 2nd Battalion on 27 June 1918.
Sentenced to Death
In confinement awaiting trial from 7 July 1918. Private Wilson Norman Ling sentenced to death by FGCM, 8 July 1918.
To APM, 1st Division, 13 July 1918. Sentence approved by Haig, 4 August 1918. Sentence promulgated 11 August 1918, and duly carried out.
Private Ling Shot at Dawn
Pte Ling Shot at Dawn, 12 August 1918 and immediately buried at the New French Military Cemetery in Cerisy-Gailly.
The Toronto Star reported Wilson had died of wounds. His execution was the fifth and last shooting during the month of August 1918.
Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery
Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery (originally called the New French Military Cemetery) begun in February 1917 and used by medical units until March 1918.
After the recapture of the village used by Australian units.
The cemetery increased after the Armistice when graves brought in from the battlefields of the Somme.
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