Shot at Dawn
Little known about why the fifth soldier of the CEF Shot at Dawn, Private John William Roberts. A Newfoundlander serving with the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles, he deserted just before the 2nd CMR saw their first casualties around the border of Belgium and France in February 1916.
Not far from the mill at Mont-de-Cats, Private John William Roberts saw the last of his comrades in the 2nd CMR.
Early Life of John William Roberts
Born August 5, 1895 Kings Cove, Newfoundland & Labrador. Roberts’ parents both died when he was a baby, and so raised by his uncle, Kenneth Monk. Although Monk a poor fisherman, he worked hard to ensure Roberts grew up happy and healthy. Monk even managed to secure Roberts an apprenticeship as a tailor, a lucrative position for someone without a high school education. When William was nineteen he joined the Royal Naval Reserve and served without incident for four years.
Service
Private John William Roberts 107526/89823, 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles (British Columbia Regt.) Pvt John William Roberts had been discharged from this Corps on 20 April 1915, but re-enlisted May 26, 1915 Vancouver, British Columbia, d-o-b August 5, 1895, aged 21 years, 6 months. Four years previous service as a cook in the Naval Reserve. Sources suggest he was AWOL, but more likely, he was dismissed as ‘not likely to become an efficient soldier’ during his first enlistment attempt.
2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles marching past Maj. Gen. Sam Hughes, Victoria, 1915
The regiment embarked for Great Britain on 12 June 1915. Pvt Roberts treated for VDG at Barnwell Military Hospital on 7 September 1915. He would miss the departure of his unit to France. Discharged to duty later on 24 September 1915.
France
The 2nd CMR disembarked in France on 22 September 1915 as part of the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles Brigade.
Pvt Roberts entered France on 10 November 1915, and caught up with his unit near Boot Farm, at La Bourse, north of Bailleul. Lieutenant-Colonel J. C. L. Bott, in command (12 June 1915 – 27 November 1916).
The battalion paraded for Inspection by the Corps Commander at 27.X.15.c (Meteren) at 2:30 pm, 4 January 1916.
Slightly sick, Pvt Roberts admitted to No. 11 General Hospital, Boulogne on 10 January 1916 and later discharged to Base Detail on 5 February 1916.
On the 3rd, 4th, and 5th of February 1916, Pvt’s White, Rivet and Bartlett of the 2nd CMR killed-in-action.
On 6 February 1916, Pvt Roberts absented himself from Marlborough Details Camp. Over four months later, John found in civilian clothes by the Imperial Military Police.
In confinement awaiting trial from 26 June 1916 to 15 July 1916. Charged with being AWOL from February 1916 until 26 June 1916.
FGCM
The main types of courts martial included District Court Martial (DCM), Regimental Court Martial (RCM), GCM, and Field General Court Martial (FGCM). The FGCM most easily obtained (convened), and only three officers required to vote for the death penalty. Of the 25 soldiers of the CEF Shot at Dawn in the Great War, Private William John Roberts received the least counsel and the ultimate decision to takes his life, the most arbitrary.
Summary Trials “March in the guilty bastard”
THE OBSERVATORY
The News letter of the Canadian Observatory for Military Justice Reform
Editor: Major Tim Dunne, CD
Canadian military personnel tried by summary trials subjected to a modern version of medieval justice, denied the most basic and important rights the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees to all Canadians. A hold-over from England’s King William II’s Mutiny Act of 1689, summary trials provide for swift and peremptory treatment of minor infractions of military regulations and protocols. The summary trial the principal method through which Canadian military personnel tried.
Pvt John William Roberts tried on 15 July 1916, and Sentenced to Death by being Shot. Sadly, John had no chance and no defense.
Sentence promulgated 26 July 1916 by Commander in Chief, General Haig, and four days later, Private William John Roberts executed by a detail of the British Army.
Le Portel
The commune of Le Portel located only 4 km south-west of Boulogne-sur-Mer.
John shot as a Deserter, at Le Portel, 4:36 am, 30 July 1916. Mother dead, an Uncle (Kenneth Monk) of Bonavista Bay received notification. Kenneth Monk informed of his son’s death a few months later. Perhaps in some attempt to protect Monk’s memory of his son or to lessen his grief, Monk told Roberts died in battle. Monk and the entire village heartbroken by the news and grieved deeply at the loss of one of their own.
By evidence of his location of execution, Pvt Roberts tried, convicted, and executed by an Imperial Army FGCM. The condemned usually executed in front of a company of his own unit, but the 2nd CMR at St Lawrence Camp, south-east of Poperinghe in Belgium at this time. Until 1949, Newfoundlanders held the status of British subjects.
Kenneth Monk
The death of his foster son and a lifetime of hard labour took their toll on Monk’s health leaving him unable to work and in difficult financial circumstances. In 1921, Monk became aware of pensions for parents who lost sons in the war and applied for one. Interestingly, despite Roberts being killed for desertion, Monk still eligible for a pension and efforts made to preserve Monk’s belief his son had died an “honourable” death in battle. The problem for Monk was that he had no documentary evidence for his claims.
Pension
Pensions for family members of soldiers who died because of their service, only granted if documentary evidence could be provided proving the deceased soldier had and intended to continue providing financial aid. Monk having no access to a bank account and having received support from his son in cash, could provide no documentary evidence. Though community members including the parish minister testified for Monk’s case, the pension board ultimately rejected Monk’s claim.
Monk’s House
The Monks House has been designated a heritage building because of its architectural and historical values. The Monks House is a two-and-a-half-storey, common purlin gable roof house located in King’s Cove, Bonavista Bay. The designation is confined to the footprint of the buidling. The house’s best known occupant, Kenneth Monks, built the the clock on its exterior, which is the building’s best known feature.
The community of King’s Cove view this house as important not only because of its unique building style, but also because of works done by Kenneth Monks and his contributions to the community. Monks made significant additions to the religious carvings and inscriptions at the local Anglican Church. The Newfoundland Museum has featured many of his works over the years and researchers, such as Gerald Pocius of Memorial University’s Folklore Department and Walter Peddle of the Newfoundland Museum, have documented Monks’ contributions to Newfoundland’s material heritage.
Boulogne Eastern Cemetery
Only five days previous to John’s execution, Bombardier Frederick Stanley Arnold, an American of the 1st Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery, Shot at Dawn, and also buried at Boulogne Eastern Cemetery.
Grave reference: VIII. A. 137.
Grave reference: VIII. A. 154.
Boulogne one of the three base ports most extensively used by the Commonwealth armies on the Western Front throughout the Great War. It was closed and cleared on the 27 August 1914 when the Allies were forced to fall back ahead of the German advance, but opened again in October and from that month to the end of the war, Boulogne and Wimereux formed one of the chief hospital areas.
Research
Through Veterans Eyes – Matthew Morden
