From the file WO71/621 held at TNA
[An incomplete file that is missing the recommendations from the chain of command but still interesting all the same..]
CHARGE SHEET
The accused No. 200945, Pte. Bateman J. “D” Company, 2nd Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment, a soldier of the Regular Forces, is charged with :-
ARMY ACT Sec. 12 (1a)
1. “When on active service deserting His Majesty’s Service”
In that he at GORRE on the 24-9-17 after being warned to parade at 5.30 pm to proceed to the trenches absented himself from his Battalion till surrendering himself to the Military authorities at ARQUES near the 18th Prisoners of War Camp at about 8.20 pm on the 29-9-17 to whom he described himself as No. 12058, Sergeant CARTWRIGHT 2/5th SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE REGIMENT and when he was wearing Sergeant’s stripes.
2. “When on active service deserting His Majesty’s Service”
In that he, at BAS RIEUX on the 18th October, 1917, absented himself from his Battalion, until apprehended at BOULOGNE by the M.F.P on 24th October, 1917
FORM FOR ASSEMBLY AND PROCEEDINGS OF FIELD GENERAL COURT MARTIAL ON ACTIVE SERVICE
PROCEEDINGS
At* IN THE FIELD this 2nd day of October, 1917
Whereas it appears to me, the undersigned, an officer in Command of 6th Infantry Brigade on active service, that the persons named in the annexed Schedule, and being subject to Military Law, have committed the offences in the said schedule mentioned.
And I am of opinion that it is not practicable that such offences should be tried by an ordinary General Court Martial:
I hereby convene a Field General Court Martial to try the said persons and to consist of the Officers hereunder named.
President
Major J. Walsh – Royal Innis. Fus., attached 13th Essex Regt.
Members
Captain W.A.T Gage – 1st Kings Regt.
Lieut. E.J Holton – 2nd S. Stagffs Regt.
Capt. H.L Bazley – General List
EVIDENCE AT THE TRIAL OF NO. 200945 PRIVATE J. BATEMAN, 2/SOUTH STAFFS REGIMENT
PROSECUTION
1ST CHARGE
1st Witness No. 17432 A/Cpl J. Holloway 2nd South Staffs sworn states:
At GORRE on 24/9/17 I was orderly sergt. of “D” Company – to which Coy. the accused belongs. At 1pm on that date I warned the Company in the our billets to parade at 5.30pm on that date to proceed to the trenches.
The accused was present when I gave the warning. I saw him.
On falling the Company in at 5.30pm the accused was absent.
I searched for him but did not find him. I next saw him after he was brought back under escort on 10/10/17.
The Company proceeded to the line that night. The accused was not with the Company between 24th September and 28th September 1917.
No cross-examination.
Not examined by the court.
2nd Witness No. 9046 Sgt. T.R Pearson 2nd South Staffs sworn states:
I am Platoon Sgt. of No.13 Platoon “D” Company to which the accused belongs. On 24/9/17 at GORRE I was present when O.S Cpl. Holloway warned the Company that they were to parade for the trenches that evening.
The accused was present.
On falling in at 5.30pm the same day I called the roll. The accused was absent. The accused was not seen again until brought back under escort about 10/10/17.
No cross-examination.
Not examined by the court.
3rd Witness No. 20476 Pte. W. Rastall 4th Yorks and Lancs sworn states:
On 27/9/17 at ARQUES at about 8.30pm I was employed at Prisoners of War Camp 18. I was walking along the road when the accused came to me and said he an absentee from his Regiment. I took him to 18 P.O.W Camp and handed him over to C.S.M Hayes.
Cross-examined by the accused
I did not find you in an estaminet.
Questioned by the Court
There were 2 others with me when the accused came up to us.
4th Witness No. 13457 C.S.M E. Hayes 2nd Essex Regiment attd. 18 P.O.W Coy. sworn states:
On 27/9/17 at ARQUES at about 8.30pm in consequence of information I questioned the accused, who was brought to me. Accused informed me he had left his Battalion on 26/9/17 near BETHUNE. I placed him under arrest.
Not cross-examined
Questioned by the Court
Accused was wearing Sergeant’s stripes. He gave his name as No. 12058 Sgt. Cartwright of 2/5th South Staffs.
5th Witness No. 7153 Cpl. J. Smith 2nd South Staffs sworn states:
On 10/10/17 I proceeded to BONY on instructions and took over the accused from A.P.M 59th Division. I handed him over to the Sergeant of the Regimental Guard that night.
No cross-examination
No questions from the Court.
2nd Charge
1st Witness No. 9114 Sgt. M.F York 2nd South Staffs sworn states:
On the night of 18th October 1917 I was in command of the Regimental Guard at BAS RIEUX. At 5.30pm I took over 13 prisoners from the Provost Sergeant, of whom the accused was one. At 7.15pm I called the roll of prisoners. Accused failed to answer his name. I searched the Guard room and vicinity. The accused had escaped.
I did not see accused again till the morning of October 29th 1917.
No cross-examination
No questions by the court
2nd Witness No. 12816 L/Cpl S. Cooper 2nd South Staffs sworn states:
On the night of 18th October 1917 I was Corporal of the Regimental Quarters Guard at BAS RIEUX. At 5.30pm 13 men were handed over Sgt. York.
The accused was one of them.
The roll was called at 7.15pm.
The accused was absent.
I did not see the accused again until 29 October 1917.
No cross-examination
No questions by the court
3rd Witness No. 16173 Sgt. G.H Bullock 2nd South Staffs sworn states:
On the night of 18th October 1917, at 5.30pm at BAS RIEUX, as Provost Sgt. I handed over 13 prisoners to the Sgt. Of the Guard. The accused was one. About 7.15pm I went to the guardroom to guard the accused. The accused was not there. I next saw the accused on 28th October when he was brought back under escort. He was not with the Battalion between 18th and 28th October 1917.
No cross-examination
No questions by the court
4th Witness No. 204235 L/Cpl P. Younger M.F.P sworn states:
On 24/10/17 I was on patrol duty in BOULOGNE. At about 1.35pm I saw two men of whom the accused was one. I asked him if he had a pass and he said no. I asked him if he was on duty and he said not. I arrested them and took them to Military Police guard detention rooms where they were detained.
No cross-examination
By the court
He was wearing fatigue dress and a cap with a South Staffs badge.
5th Witness No. 6228 L/Cpl P. Hardwick 2nd South Staffs sworn states:
On 27/10/17, under orders, I received accused at BOULOGNE from the M.F.P. I took him and handed him over to the Provost Sgt. with the Battalion on 28/10/17.
No cross-examination
No questions by the court
DEFENCE
The accused states:
I have nothing to say and also do not wish to give evidence on oath or otherwise.
AFTER FINDING
No evidence as to CHARACTER
Accused makes no statement in mitigation.
(Signed) J. Walsh Major.
President FGCM
AFB122
Walsall 9/12/14 Absent from 12.30pm 9/12/14 till 12.30pm 11/12/14
24 hours detention. Forfeits 3 days pay.
Walsall 14/12/14 Absent from 9am 14/12/14 till 11.30pm 15/12/14
48 hours detention. Forfeits 3 days pay.
Luton 13/2/15 Absent w/o leave from 13/2/15 till 5/3/15
3 days Field Punishment No.2. Forfeits 24 days pay.
Hoddesdon 13-3-15 Absent from 10pm 13-3-15 till arrested at Euston Station 12.15pm
48 hours detention.
Broxbourne 19-3-15 Absent w/o leave
14 days Field Punishment No.2. Forfeits 3 days pay.
Harpenden 27-3-15 Absent w/o leave from 10pm till 1.40pm 28/3/15
16 hours detention.
Harpenden 7-4-15 Absent w/o leave till 27/4/15
14 days detention. Forfeits 20 days pay.
Harpenden 22/5/15 Absent w/o leave 22-5-15 till 26-5-15
96 hours detention. Forfeits 5 days pay.
Harpenden 4/6/15 Absent w/o leave 4-6-15 till 12-6-15. Breaking away from escort.
28 days detention. Forfeits 8 days pay.
Harpenden 10/7/15 Absent w/o leave 10-7-15 till 15-7-15
5 days pay. 14 days detention.
Harpenden 19/7/15 Irregular conduct whilst in the Guard room
3 days [Field Punishment] No.2
St. Albans 4/8/15 Absent w/o leave 4/8/15 – 4/8/15
2 days pay. 96 hours detention
St. Albans 20/8/15 Absent w/o leave 20/8/15 till arrested at Luton 21/8/15
1 days pay. 96 hours detention
St. Albans 27/8/15 Absent from Tattoo 27/8/15 till arrested by Civil Police 29/8/15
96 hours detention. 14 days confined to barracks.
St. Albans 4/9/15 Absenting himself without leave
88 days detention
St. Albans 28/12/15 Absent from Guard Mounting 4.30pm
3 extra guards
St. Albans 2/3/16 Absent from 9.30am till apprehended by M.P at 9.50pm in Hospital Road
3 days F.P No.2
Dublin 12/5/16 Absent from billets from 11.30am till 5pm 14/5/16
7 days F.P No.2. 3 days pay.
Dublin 3/6/16 Absent without leave from 10pm till arrested by M.P at 6pm 12/6/16
14 days F.P No.2
Dublin 10/7/16 Absent from defaulters parade at 6.15pm. Absent from tattoo till apprehended by Civil Police on 14/7/16
10 days F.P No.2. 5 days pay.
Ballykilleen 9/10/16 Overstaying leave till 3.30pm 11/10/16. Absent 45 hours.
14 days C.B and 3 days pay.
Ballykilleen 17/10/16 Absent from defaulters parade at 6.15am
5 days F.P No.2
Ballykilleen 7-12-16 (i) When on Active Service absenting himself without leave (ii) Losing by neglect his equipment
6 months detention and stoppages of 12/4
In the Field 16.6.17 Absent from Parade at Noon and 3.30pm till 7pm
28 days F.P No.1
In the Field 3.7.17 When on Active Service from 8pm 3.7.17 until apprehended by M.F.P 11.30pm 4.7.17
28 days F.P No.1
In the Field 1917 Absenting himself from Front Line Trenches from 1.30pm until surrendering himself to the M.P at 10.45pm 2.8.17 (2days, 9 hours and 15 mins)
28 Days F.P No.1
SCHEDULE
No. 200945, Pte. Bateman J. “D” Company, 2nd Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment
1st Charge
“When on active service deserting His Majesty’s Service”
2nd Charge
“When on active service deserting His Majesty’s Service”
Finding, and if convicted, Sentence.
1. Guilty
2. Guilty
DEATH.
RECOMMENDATIONS
[Missing up to C-in-C]
Confirmed.
(Signed) D. Haig FM
22 Nov:17
PROMULGATION
Promulgated 6.30pm 2.12.17 and 6.12.17
(Signed) W.R Mansell L.Col
5th South Staffs attd. 2nd S.Staffs
DEATH WARRANT
No. 200945, Pte. Bateman J. , 2nd Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment, having been tried by F.G.C.M and sentenced to death by shooting, the sentence will be carried out at 6.30am at Ytres on 3rd December 1917.
(Signed)
Cecil Pereira
Major General
Commanding 2nd Division.
SENTENCE
I certify that No. 200945, Pte. Bateman J. , 2nd Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment was executed by shooting at 6.35am on Dec 3rd 1917 at Ytres. Death was instantaneous.
(Signed) T. Bourne-Price
Captain, RAMC
Blindfold and Alone 