For the Sake of Example: Capital Courts-Martial 1914-1920

by Anthony Babington

1st edn. 8vo. Original gilt lettered green cloth (Used - Very Good), dustwrapper (Used - Very Good). Pp. xii + 238 (previous owner's neat inscription on title page and small address sticker on front paste-down).

Genres: Nonfiction, World War I

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1984

Reviews

[Chris]

This was a very thought provoking book. It is interesting that at the beginning of the war they told the families that their loved one had been shot for cowardice, etc. and by the later years they started lying. Sadly many of those executed were young, idealistic, impressionable and in many cases sensitive men. Even at the time it was hard to justify the official actions since any human being subjected to what occurred on the Western Front would naturally want to flee (flight or fight) since fighting back against artillery/machine gun fire was virtually impossible for the average man.
I think this should be required reading for every command academy for any branch of the military. One should always take pause before ordering someone to die and reflect on whether the action is really necessary, does it accomplish a real objective that has long term positive consequences. In too many cases those in charge have put their soldiers in harms way for all the wrong reasons and it continues to this day.