events

World War I: Private Thomas Highgate becomes the first British soldier to be executed for desertion during the war.

Historical image related to World War I: Private Thomas Highgate becomes the first British soldier to be executed for desertion during the war. from September 8, 1914

World War I

1914–1918 global conflict

World War I or the First World War, also known as the Great War, was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Central Powers. Main areas of conflict included Europe and the Middle East, as well as parts of Africa and the Asia-Pacific. There were important…
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)

Thomas Highgate

British soldier and deserter (1895–1914)

Private Thomas James Highgate was a British soldier during the First World War and the first British soldier to be convicted of desertion and executed by firing squad on the Western Front. He was born in Shoreham, Kent, and worked as a farm labourer before joining the army in…
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)