By Edwin Baker – 

At just 16 years old, Herbert Morris, a young man from Jamaica, answered the call to serve during the First World War. He joined the 6th Battalion of the British West Indies Regiment (6BWIR), and, yearning for adventure, he was sent to the grim trenches. Initially, his superiors noted that he “behaved well,” but the harsh realities of war soon took their toll.

Fear gripped many soldiers in the chaos of battle, and Herbert was not immune. Faced with relentless shelling, he experienced overwhelming anxiety and disorientation. Eventually, the weight of his fears became too much to bear, and he fled the trenches, going absent without leave. Despite his desperate attempt to escape the horrors around him, he was captured after two days on the run. With no easy route back to safety, Herbert was apprehended in Boulogne and faced fourteen days of field punishment.

Tragically, the pressures of war proved too great once more. On August 20, after witnessing the loss of seven comrades, Herbert made a second attempt to escape, jumping from the lorry that was transporting him to his unit. He was once again arrested in Boulogne after entering a rest camp without a ticket of leave. This time, he was visibly struggling, suffering from what we now recognise as battle fatigue or ‘shell shock.’ In court, Herbert pleaded for understanding, explaining, “I am troubled with my head and cannot stand the sound of the guns.” Yet, the court ignored his plea for medical help and proceeded with his trial.

In the eyes of the British Army, desertion was a grave offence, especially in wartime, and punishment was severe. Herbert was court-martialed and sentenced to death for desertion from active service—a decision confirmed by Field Marshal Douglas Haig. On the morning of September 20, 1917, just after celebrating his 17th birthday, Herbert was executed by a firing squad composed of both West Indian and white soldiers, serving as a grim example to others.

Herbert Morris was buried in Poperinge New Military Cemetery in Belgium, a silent testament to the young lives lost in the war. Nearly 90 years later, on November 8, 2006, he was posthumously pardoned, along with 300 other soldiers executed for similar offences during the First World War. UK Defence Secretary Des Browne stated, “This is not about rewriting history. I believe it is better to acknowledge that injustices were done in some cases – even if we cannot say which – and to recognise that all these men were victims of war.”

For the Sake of Example

He woke to the sound of a far distant gun
Corporal said softly, “you ready old son!”
He gave him a drink it didn’t taste right
They stood quietly, waiting until it was light

The padre came in, looking somber and sad
He muttered low words that were lost on the lad
The others stood stiffly, then moved to the door
He still wasn’t certain what all this was for

They took him outside as the fingers of dawn
Spread over the courtyard, so sad and forlorn
He saw them his comrades, all standing in line
Not one of them looked at him or gave him a sign

They pinned a white rag on they gave him a chair
His comrades stood ready; cruel shots filled the air
So, back to the trenches, more terror to sample
He’s dead; they knew why, for the sake of example

They had all watched him die in a foreign land
A warning for others from the high command

Author Unknown

Herbert’s story is a poignant reminder of war’s profound impact on the young lives caught in its grasp. His execution was not a fate he deserved but rather a reflection of the injustices faced by many soldiers, particularly those from marginalised backgrounds. As we remember his sacrifice, let us honour all the soldiers who served, acknowledging both their bravery and the struggles they endured.

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