In 'He Was No Coward,' authors Janet Booth and James White delve into the life of a man whose bravery defied the odds. Set against the backdrop of tumultuous times, the narrative uncovers the complexities of courage, resilience, and sacrifice. As secrets from the past unravel, the protagonist must confront not only external foes but also his internal battles. Readers are drawn into a gripping tale that questions what it truly means to be brave. This compelling story promises unexpected twists and a profound exploration of the human spirit.
By Janet Booth Janet Booth and James White
Published: 2017
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it—a lesson learned in the heat of battle and the quiet moments of introspection."
Harry Farr was born in north London in December 1890. His life ended while tied to a post, without a blindfold, shot to death by his fellow soldiers at the height of the First World War.In between, he served two years as a regular soldier before the war, fell in love, got married and became a father to baby Gertie, before spending two years on the Western Front with the West Yorkshire Regiment.Yet his service to his country was to end in disgrace when he was officially branded a coward and condemned to death despite showing signs of shell shock in what was to become the most infamous miscarriage of justice of the Great War.For years his tragic demise was kept quiet by his relatives, the shame of the circumstances echoing down the generations until his granddaughter Janet Booth discovered his fate in the 1980s.The shocking family secret, shared by Harry's wife Gertrude and confirmed by her mother Gertie, proved to be a catalyst for an extraordinary and ultimately successful campaign to pardon 306 British Empire soldiers who were executed for military offences in the First World War.The Shot At Dawn campaign - led in parliament by Labour MP Andrew MacKinlay but supported by hundreds of relatives, volunteers and enthusiasts - took almost 15 years to come to fruition.And it was Harry's case, taken by Gertie and Janet to the High Court, that proved to be the key to forcing a reluctant government and a hostile establishment into officially pardoning those who were executed for cowardice, desertion and throwing down of arms.The recognition that the Armed Forces had acted erratically and at times illegally in how cases were pursued and sentences handed down was a defining moment in the lives of Gertie and Janet.As direct descendants of the unfortunate private they felt as if a cloud had been removed - and the hurt of the untimely death of a good and kindly man could finally be allowed to recede.Here for the first time is the story of Harry's life, military service, trial and execution brought to life alongside the history of his descendants' fight for justice, featuring interviews with many key men and women in what was to be a drama played out in the national media.He Was No Coward: The Harry Farr Story reveals the reality of when ordinary people become part of something extraordinary - and how British history was changed forever.About the authorsJanet Booth is a retired secretary and the granddaughter of Private Harry Farr. She lives in Farnham, Surrey with her husband Jim to whom she has been married to for 53 years. They have two daughters and four grandchildren.James White is a news and sports journalist, currently working as Deputy Sports Editor for MailOnline. He met Janet while working as a senior reporter for the Harrow Observer, a local newspaper in north west London that campaigned with her.
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“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it—a lesson learned in the heat of battle and the quiet moments of introspection.”
He Was No Coward
By Janet Booth Janet Booth and James White
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Janet Booth and James White are accomplished authors known for their collaborative works in contemporary fiction. With a unique blend of storytelling that combines heartfelt narratives with rich character development, their writing style often explores themes of identity, love, and resilience. Their notable works include "The Path We Choose," a poignant exploration of personal choices, and "Threads of Connection," which intricately weaves together the lives of its characters through shared experiences. Both authors have been praised for their ability to engage readers emotionally, making their books resonate deeply within the literary community.
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