In Memoriam
Awaiting Justice
"If doing well ye suffer, this is acceptable with God." I .Epis Peter
'The two condemned had passed the night separately incarcerated in candlelit cells, preached at by a huge padre of alcoholic appearance. They were tied up from head to toe like sausages. A thick bandage hid their faces. And, a horrible thing, on their chests a square of fabric was placed over their hearts... The unfortunate duo could not move. They had to be carried like two dummies on the open-backed lorry, which bore them to the rifle range. It is impossible to articulate the sinister impression the sight of those two living parcels made on me. The padre mumbled some words and then went off to eat! Two six-strong platoons appeared, lined up with their backs to the firing posts. The guns lay on the ground. When the condemned had been attached, the men of the platoon who had not been able to see events, responding to a silent gesture, picked up their guns, abruptly turned about, aimed and opened fire. They then turned their backs on the bodies and the sergeant ordered "Quick march!" The men marched right past them, without inspecting their weapons, without turning a head. No military compliments, no parade, no music, no march past; a hideous death without drums or trumpets.' [A French military observer]
British West Indies Canadian Expeditionary Force New Zealand West African Regiment
