11 Nov Ask the Records Officer: Universality of Treatment
We think of this as equality of rank or social class but it extends beyond to the treatment of Men executed for crimes, principally murder. Six Canadians were executed for murder in the UK during WWII. All six were tried by British Courts and Juries, with no Canadian involvement (how Mackenzie-King!). All 6 Juries recommended Mercy but the UK judges ignored the advice and recommended Death by hanging. UK Judges did have a problem in executing Innocents (see Christie/Evens), but not in their opinion. One of the more disturbing trials involved a Metis from Battleford, August Sangret accused of killing his Girlfriend. He was hanged by Pierrepoint and buried in unconsecrated ground at Wandsworth Prison. So no wargrave erected there so he is named with others on the Brookwood Memorial. Odd all the SOE and Special Forces, Dieppe lads and lassies are on the same wall as some Criminals. Check out the Sangret Books. I don’t think he did it!