Great War Stories The executed five
Private Victor Spencer and Private Jack Braithwaite were two of 28 members of the NZEF sentenced to death during the First World War. Five of these men were sent before the firing squad: Spencer and Braithwaite, Private Frank Hughes, Private John Sweeney, and Private John King. Braithwaite was tried and executed by British military authorities for mutiny while the others were tried and executed by New Zealand authorities for desertion. In total 306 British and Commonwealth soldiers were executed after being convicted in courts-martial during the First World War. In September 2000 all five men received posthumous pardons when the New Zealand Parliament passed the Pardon for Soldiers of the Great War Act.
Short films telling personal stories about New Zealanders affected by Gallipoli and the First World War.
Primary Title
- Great War Stories
Episode Title
- The executed five
Date Broadcast
- Monday 12 February 2018
Original Broadcast Date
- Wednesday 22 April 2015
Duration
- 04:35
Series
- 2
Episode
- 5
Channel
- Internet
Broadcaster
- New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Programme Description
- Short films telling personal stories about New Zealanders affected by Gallipoli and the First World War.
Episode Description
- Private Victor Spencer and Private Jack Braithwaite were two of 28 members of the NZEF sentenced to death during the First World War. Five of these men were sent before the firing squad: Spencer and Braithwaite, Private Frank Hughes, Private John Sweeney, and Private John King. Braithwaite was tried and executed by British military authorities for mutiny while the others were tried and executed by New Zealand authorities for desertion. In total 306 British and Commonwealth soldiers were executed after being convicted in courts-martial during the First World War. In September 2000 all five men received posthumous pardons when the New Zealand Parliament passed the Pardon for Soldiers of the Great War Act.
Classification
- Unknown
Owning Collection
- Chapman Archive
Broadcast Platform
- Television
Languages
- English
Captions
Live Broadcast
- No
Rights Statement
- Made for the University of Auckland's educational use as permitted by the Screenrights Licensing Agreement.
Notes
- Research and scripts: AC Productions. Images, historic video and further sources: Archives New Zealand and National Library of New Zealand. Originally broadcast as a segment of TV3 News (now Newshub), MediaWorks Television.
Subjects
- World War, 1914-1918--Personal narratives, New Zealand
- World War, 1914-1918--Campaigns--Turkey--Gallipoli Peninsula
- Soldiers' writings, New Zealand
- Documentary television programs--New Zealand
Genres
- Biography
- History
- War
Contributors
- Hilary Barry (Narrator)
- Anna Cottrell (Director)
- Anna Cottrell (Producer)
- AC Productions (Production Unit)
- NZ On Air (Funder)
Subjects
- World War, 1914-1918--Personal narratives, New Zealand
- World War, 1914-1918--Campaigns--Turkey--Gallipoli Peninsula
- Soldiers' writings, New Zealand
- Documentary television programs--New Zealand