The longstanding campaign for a pardon not just for Harry Farr but for all those executed for military offences during the First World War has been concluded Most people will probably have been pleased by the result and feel that justice has 64257na ID: 44200
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ThelifeanddeathofPrivateHarryFarrSimonWesselyJRSocMedLastmonththeDefenceSecretaryDesBrowneannouncedaformalpardonforHarryFarr,whohadbeenshotatdawnforcowardiceon16October1916.Thelong-standingcampaignforapardon,notjustforHarryFarrbutforallthoseexecutedformilitaryoffencesduringtheFirstWorldWar,hasbeenconcluded.Mostpeoplewillprobablyhavebeenpleasedbytheresult,andfeelthatjusticehasÞnally JOURNALOFTHEROYALSOCIETYOFMEDICINEVolume99September2006 KingsCentreforMilitaryHealthResearch,InstituteofPsychiatry,KingsCollegeLondon,LondonSE59RJ,UK.E-mail:s.wessely@iop.kcl.ac.uk of1917.TheItalianscollapsedatCaporetto,andtheRussianarmiesdisintegratedinthesameyear.Infact,theBritishArmydidwithstandthealmostunimaginablestrain,andin1918wouldwinwhatmanyhistorianstobeitsÞnestfeatofarms,butthatwasstilltocome.Haighadreasontobeworried.By1916mostoftheregulararmy,theÔOldContemptiblesÕhadgone.Intheirplacecamethecitizenarmy,theKitchenerArmy,followedbytheconscriptsof1917.ForregularssuchasHaigthesewereviewedwithsuspicion.Theywerenotlackinginpatriotismormorale,buttheywerenotpropersoldiers.Theyhadnoprofessionalmilitarytraining,orpreviousservice.Nooneknewhowthemasscitizenarmieswouldwithstandthenewandterribleenvironmentofindustria-lizedwarfare.Haigandhiscolleagueswereconstantlyonthealertforsignsofareducingofmorale,oraworseningofdiscipline,thatmightprecedeacatastrophiccollapseorHaig,likeallhiscolleagues,believedthatthemainreasonthathismenfoughtwasbecauseoftheirpatriotism,senseofduty,leadership,andlocalespritdecorps.Butifthosewerethecarrots,therewasalsonodissentionfromtheviewthatoccasionallythestickwasneededaswell.Thenewarmyrequiredasternsystemofdisciplinemuchasappliedtotheprewarregularsifitwastoendure.TheregulararmywasexpectedtosettheexampleÑandPrivateFarr,asaregular,wouldbejudgedbythosestandards.Yeteveninthetestingyearsof1916and1917itremainedthecasethat,despiteallthepressures,Haigstillshowedclemencytothevastmajorityofthosesentencedtodeathformilitaryoffences.WhywasFarrtheexception?PartoftheanswertothatquestionliesintheexactcircumstancesofthefatefuldaywhenFarrrefusedRSMHakingÕsorderstogoforward.TheBattleoftheSommehadbeenrenewedthedaybefore,inwhathistoriansnowcallthebattleofFlers-Courcelette.TheWestYorkswereduetojointhisbattlethefollowingmorningaspartof6thDivisionÕsassaultagainstthenotoriousfortiÞedGermanpositionknownastheÔQuadrilateralÕ.FarrwasmovingthroughwhatwasknownasÔChimpanzeeValleyÕ,wherehisunitwasformingup.ItwasaparticularlyunpleasantlocationbecauseoftheproximityoftheBritishartillerylayingdownthebarragefortheattackthefollowingday(Corns,personalcommunication).Itwasthoseguns,nottheGermangunsassomethink,thatsodisturbedHarry.WardiariesforthatdayreportintenseBritishartilleryÞreformuchofthe16September,andthenagainintenseÞredirectedattheQuadrilateralintheeveningofthe17September.Itwouldhavebeencommonknowledgethatthebattalionwastogointoactionthefollowingdawn:asindeeditdid.Anditwouldbecommonknowledgethatthiswouldbecostly:asindeeditwas.Therewere150casualtiesoutofabattalionstrengthof600.SoPrivateFarrÕsrefusaltogotothetrenchesonthenightof17Septemberwouldhavebeeninterpretedbyhiscomrades,NCOsandofÞcersinthelightoftheforthcomingaction.ThefoursergeantsandprivateswhogaveevidenceagainstFarralltookpartintheattack,andsurvived.Andallwouldhavehadfriendswhodidnot.Itwasaverybadnighttobreakdown.Usuallysoldiersfacingacapitalchargewouldhavepeopletospeakupforthem,andgiveevidenceastotheirsoundcharacter,previousserviceandsoon.YetinFarrÕscasethiskindoftestimonyiseitherabsentorambiguous.AsthepapersoftheFieldGeneralCourtMartialprocessedupthechainofcommand,beingÞrstreviewedbythelegalsection(whofoundnolegalanomalies,andhencenogroundstoquashtheconviction),sixdifferentofÞcershadtheopportunitytoaddtheircomments.FarrÕscommandingofÞcerwastheÞrst,andwrote:ÔIcannotsaywhathasdestroyedthismanÕsnerves,buthehasprovedhimselfonmanyoccasionsincapableofkeepinghisheadinactionandlikelytocauseapanic.ApartfromhisbehaviourunderÞre,hisconductandcharacterareverygood.ÕThiswasnotveryhelpful,butitwouldhavebeenthecommentsfromGeneralCavan,GOC4thdivision,thatsealedFarrÕsfate:ÔThechargeofÔÔcowardiceÕÕseemstobeclearlyprovedandtheSgtMajorÕsopinionofthemanisdeÞnitelybadtosaytheleastofit.TheG.O.C.6thDiv.informsmethatthemenknowthemanisnogood.Ithereforerecommendthatthesentencebecarriedout.ÕNothingwassaidattheCourtMartialaboutwhathadhappenedtothebattalioninthehoursafterFarrÕsdesertion,butnothingwouldhaveneededtohavebeensaid.Everyoneknew.TherewereandareconsiderabledifferenceinmilitaryhonourandcodesofbehaviourbetweenÔscrimshankingÕÑbreakingtherules,stealingbetterprovisions,avoidingonerousduties,missingoutonparadesandsoon,andlettingyourmatesdownandleavingthemindanger.Theformerisseenwithapprovalbyyourcomrades,ifnottheNCOsorofÞcers,butthelatterisItmayhavebeenforthisreasonthatFarrÕscomradesweresoreluctanttospeakupforhim,testimonywhichifpresentwouldnormallyhaveledtoareprieve.NonewasforthcomingforFarrÑrathertheopposite.AndsoRawlinson,andthenHaig,endorsedthesentence,andthelastactofthetragedytookplaceatCarnoyatdawnonthe18October1916. 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Butthereisanotherfactorwhich,toourmodernmind,seemstosumuptheinsensitivityandinjusticeofFarrÕsfate.PriortohisrefusaltojoinhiscomradesinthetrenchesreadyfortheattackontheQuadrilateral,Farrhadonatleastthreeoccasionsbeinghospitalizedwithadiagnosisofshellshock.EvenhiscommandingofÞceradmittedthatFarrÕsÔnervesÕhadbeendestroyed.Surely,thatshouldhaveledtoamorecompassionateverdict?WasFarrnotsufferingfromwhatcontemporarypsychiatristscallpost-traumaticstressdisorder,whichwastheopinionofthemodernpsychiatristswhowroteinsupportofGertrudeFarrÕspleaforpardonforherfather?Tounderstandwhythisdidnothappen,weneedtothinkalittlemoreabouttheconceptsofpsychologicaldisorderthatexistedin1916.Infact,shellshockisnotjustanothernameforpost-traumaticstressdisorder.Eachdisorderhaddifferentsymptoms.WeforexamplehaveshownthattheÔßashbackÕ,characteristicofmodernpost-traumaticstressdisorder,isabsentfrommedicalÞlesofshellshockvictimsoftheFirstWorldWar;butthisisnotanimportantpoint.Moreimportantly,itisnottruetosay,asmanydo,thatthemilitaryandmedicalauthoritieswereblindtothepsychiatricconsequencesofwar.Thesheerscaleofthepsychiatriccasualtiesmeantthatthiswasimpossible.Butwhatwasdifferentwastheirunderstandingofwhymenbrokedowninbattle,ormoreparticularly,whytheydidnotgetbetter.By1916itwasacceptedthatmanymencouldbreakdownifpushedlongandhardenough.ButifapersonwasfundamentallyÔsoundÕ,providedthathewasmanagedcorrectlyÑand,inparticular,notgivenamedicallabelnorsenttoarearhospitalforaprolongedperiodoftimeÑthisconditionoughttobeshortlived.Butifapersondidnotrecover,despitegoodmanagement,thenthewarwasonlythetrigger,therealcausesoftheprolongedbreakdownlyingelsewhere.Thetruecausewaseitherinheritance,someformofconstitutionalweakness,orgeneticsaswewouldsaynow;alternatively,ifthedoctorwasmoreawareofFreudandhistheories,thenitwasthesoldierÕsearlylifeandupbringing.EitherwayoneÕscardwasmarkedlongbeforethepersonjoinedup.Ashort-termbreakdowncouldbetheresultofthewar,butthelongertheconditionpersisted,themorelikelyitwastobetheresultofadefectincharacter.TheofÞcersandmedicalofÞcersoftheFirstWorldWarwereVictoriansandEdwardians,towhomcharactermattered,andmatteredimmensely.AttheendoftheWaraRoyalCommissionwasformedtotryandunderstandexactlywhatshellshockwas,andwhyhaditbecomesuchaproblem.Ratherthanacceptingthatpsychiatricbreakdownwastheinevitableresultofmodernwar,andthatÔeverymanhashisbreakingpointÕ(aconclusionthatwasreachedonlyaftertheSecondWorld),theyinsteadpreferredviewssuchasthoseofLordGortVC,whotoldthemshellshockwasaregrettableweakness,andwasnotfoundingoodunits.TheCommissionconcludedthatgoodsoldiers,properlyled,withgoodmoraleandgoodtraining,shouldnotbreakAlltheirwitnessesalsotoldthemthatshellshockwascontagiousandhenceathreattoÞghtingspiritÑsoFarrÕscommandingofÞcercommentsthathewasÔliabletocauseapanicÕawakenedeverysuspicionaboutshellshockinthemilitarymind,anddidnothelphim.SohowcouldoneseparateoutthosewhorefusedtoÞghtforlegitimatereasons,anddeservedsympathy,fromthosewhorefusedtoÞghtbecausetheywerecowards?Itwasnoteasy.Whatdoesmodernpsychiatrysay?Nothing.IsearchedinvaineverycontemporarytextbookofpsychiatrythattheMaudsleyHospitalpossessesforanymentionofthewordcowardice,butitisentirelyabsent.Wearenevercalledontoevenconsiderthequestion,thankfully.Butbackin1916theydidnothavethatluxury,andthedistinctionwas,literallyforPrivateFarr,amatteroflifeanddeath.EventuallythebestguidancethattheShellShockCommissioncouldgivewasthatifamanhadpreviouslyshowncourage,thenheshouldnotbeconsideredaAmanwhohadÔdonehisbitÕshould,andindeeddid,receivemoresympathyandunderstandingthanonewhohadnot.Itwasamoralmatter.EveninthemodernarmyithelpstohaveÔearnedÕyourbreakdown.Sothelabelofshellshock,whichtoourmodernmindissynonymouswithpsychiatricdisorder,andshouldauto-maticallyhavemeantmercyforFarr,wasmoreambiguoustothepeopleof1916.Itwasalreadyfallingintodisrepute,andwasbeingincreasedseenonbothsidesofthetrenchesasaconvenientmedicallabelforpeopletoavoidtheirduties,andwouldbebannedcompletelyasadiagnosisinItwasnot,however,thecasethatmentalillnesscouldneverbeadefencetoacapitalcharge.LtSidneyStuartHume,forexample,shotanorderlyin1918,butwasfoundinsanebythesamerulesthatstillapplytoday,andwascommittedtoBroadmoor,whereheremaineduntil1976(BarhamP,personalcommunication).ButHarryFarrwasnotinsane.OthersweresometimesreprievedbecausetheyhadobvioussignsofothermentaldisordersÑbutathistrialFarrwasfoundtobeinaÔsatisfactoryÕmentalconditionbythemedicalofÞcer,whateverthatmeant.Moreimportantly,FarrhimselfhadunwiselytoldthepresidentoftheCourtMartialthatawayfromthegunshewasnowbetter.Thiswouldhavebeenseenasincompatiblewithatotalnervouscollapse.MedicalofÞcersdidfrequentlysendsoldiersbackdownthelinefornervousproblemsÑithadhappenedtoFarronthreepreviousoccasionsÑbutnotthenightbeforeabigattack.Only2monthsbeforeFarrÕsfatefuldayLtKirkwoodRAMC,amedicalofÞcerwiththe11thBorderRegiment,hadcertiÞedthatone-thirdofhisbattalionwereunÞttotake 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partinaplannedtrenchraidbecausetheyweresufferingfromÔsomedegreeofshellshockÕ.Hewasrelievedofhispostthefollowingmorning.Whentheneedsofthemilitaryconßictedwiththeneedsoftheindividual,therewasnodoubtonwhosesidethemedicalofÞcerwasmeanttobe.Wecanbesurethatonthenightof17September1916HarryFarrwasinastateofintensefear.TherewerenopsychiatristsavailableontheWesternFront(psychiatristsweremainlyasylumdoctorsanywaywholookedaftertheinsane),butifamodernpsychiatristhadmadethejourneybackintimetointerviewFarr,itisprobablethediagnosiswouldbeofsomeformofanxiety,phobicorpost-traumaticstressdisorder(thediagnosesarenotexclusive).Aphobicdisorderiswhenapersonexperiencessevereirrationaldisablingsymptomsoutofproportiontoanyactualrisk.Thereisnorationalreasontobecrippledwithanxietywhenconfrontedwithaspider,nortohavepanicattacksinsideasupermarket.ButtherewasnothingirrationalaboutFarrÕsfearsthatnightÑindeed,onemightarguethatrefusingtogoÔoverthetopÕwasthemostrationalresponsetothesituation:averitableCatch22.AndthatnightFarrwouldnothavebeenaloneinexperiencingintensefearÑtherewereprobablyfewaroundhimwhodidnotfeelsomethingsimilarastheyfacedtheprospectofattackingthenotoriousQuadrilateralthefollowingmorning.WhattheCourtMartialhadtoconsiderwasthatFarrdidnotcontrolhisfears,whilsthiscomradesdid.ModernpsychiatristslikemecancountthemselvesluckythatwewillneverbeplacedinthesituationofjudgingHarryFarrÕsbehaviourandthoseofhiscomrades.Instead,thosewhodidhavethetaskofjudgingFarrÕsactionswerefacedwithadilemma.Theywishedto,andusuallydid,showconcernforthewelfareoftheindividualsoldier.Buttheyalsowantedtopromoteorderanddiscipline,andtoensurethatsoldierscontinuedtorisktheirlivesincombat.Theybelievedthatthisrequiredsanctionsuptothesupremepenaltyforthosewhotriedtoavoidthoseduties.Itwasalwaysabalancebetweenshowingmercyandenforcingdiscipline.Althoughtheusualoutcomewastheformer,forPrivateFarrtheychoosethelatter.Speakingnowpersonally,Iwishthattheyhadnot.ItseemsveryprobablethatFarrwassufferingfromapsychiatricdisorder,evenifwedonotknowwhichone.Wearemoresympathetictowardspsychiatricbreakdownnow,althoughperhapsnotasmuchaswethinkweare.Anyway,irrespectiveofPrivateFarrÕsmentalstate,Iremainutterlyopposedtothedeathpenaltyforanyreason.Butthatwasnottheviewin1916,eitherinthemilitaryorincivilsociety.Oursocialclimatehaschanged,bothtowardsthedeathpenaltyandtowardspsychiatricillness,andthankgoodnessforthat.Butgreatercompassionisnotnecessarilythesameasgreaterunderstanding.Weshouldbecarefulofviewingthepastthroughourmodernsensibilities.Thebestwecandoistotryandunderstandtheactionsofallthemenof1916,includingPrivateFarrandthosewhojudgedhim,andnottomakeapologiesforeither.Norshouldwesuccumbtothetemptationtorewritehistorytomakeourselvesfeelmorecomfortableaboutthepast.InhisrecentsocialhistoryoftheBritishsoldierintheFirstWorldWarRichardHolmesprobablygotitaboutrightwhenhegavehisthoughtsonthesubjectofmilitaryexecutionsintheFirstWorldWar:Ô...themostthatonecansayisthattheoverwhelmingmajoritywerejustlyconvictedbythelawasitthenstooditwasindeedahardlawbutitwas,ingeneral,fairlyapplied.Butlikesomuchelseaboutthewar,theissuedividesheadfromheartandifmyheadapplaudsthelogicofcapitalsentences,theystillbreakmyheartÕ.IwishtothankCorporateMemoryattheMinistryofDefenceforobtainingtherelevantWarDiaries.IamalsogratefultoCathrynCorns,BenShephard,EdgarJones,PeterBarham,PaulLernerandTimFinneganfortheircomments.CompetinginterestsSimonWesselyisCo-DirectoroftheKingÕsCentreforMilitaryHealthResearch,partofKingÕsCollegeLondon.HeisalsoHonoraryCivilianAdvisorinPsychiatryfortheBritishArmy.REFERENCESCornsC,Hughes-WilsonJ.BlindfoldandAlone:BritishMilitaryExecutionsintheGreatWar.London:Cassell,2001PalmerI.Theemotionthatdarenotspeakitsname?BrArmyRevJonesE,WesselyS.FromShellShocktoPTSD:AHistoryofMilitaryLondon:PsychologyPress,2005JonesE,WesselyS.Theimpactoftotalwaronthepracticeofpsychiatry.In:ChickeringR,ForsterS,eds.ShadowsofTotalWar:.Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,2001:129Ð48BogaczT.WarneurosisandculturalchangeinEngland,1914Ð1922:theworkofthewarofÞcecommitteeofenquiryintoshellshock.ContempHistReportoftheWarOf ceCommitteeofEnquiryintoShell-Shock.London:HMSO,1922LeeseP.ShellShock:TraumaticNeurosisandtheBritishSoldiersoftheFirstWorldWar.Basingstoke:Palgrave,2002LernerP.HystericalMen:War,PsychiatryandthePoliticsofTraumainGermany,18901930.NewYork:CornellUniversityPress,2003ShephardB.AWarofNerves,SoldiersandPsychiatrists19141994London:JonathanCape,2000HolmesR.Tommy:TheBritishSoldierontheWesternFront,19141918London:HarperPerennial,2005 JOURNALOFTHEROYALSOCIETYOFMEDICINEVolume99September2006