Second Group of Parts – Miscellaneous Matters Miscellaneous Section 359: Pardons for servicemen executed for disciplinary offences: recognition as victims of First World War
733.This section provides that all servicemen executed for certain offences, described as “relevant offences”, committed between 4 August 1914 and 11 November 1918 shall be taken to be pardoned. The relevant offences, which include desertion and cowardice, are listed in subsection (3). The section does not lift the convictions or sentences of the servicemen affected. Nor does it create any new rights, entitlements or liabilities. It does not affect the royal prerogative of mercy.