Shot at Dawn Memorial, War memorial at National Memorial Arboretum, England
The Shot at Dawn Memorial stands on the eastern edge of the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire and honors soldiers executed during the First World War. A central bronze statue of a young soldier with covered eyes is flanked by 309 wooden posts inscribed with the names of those who faced firing squads.
The monument was unveiled in 2001 and honors soldiers who were sentenced to death during the First World War for offenses such as desertion, cowardice, or refusing orders without proper defense. The British government posthumously pardoned these men in 2006 after decades of campaigning by families and veteran groups.
The lone figure shows a soldier with covered eyes standing before a post, surrounded by six conifers that recall a firing squad. The arrangement follows military execution protocols where six men would fire rifles with only one loaded with live ammunition.
The memorial sits on the eastern edge of the arboretum grounds and catches early morning light, so visiting in the first hours after sunrise offers a powerful experience. The paths around the site are flat and allow easy access for wheelchair users and those with limited mobility.
Sculptor Andy De Comyn modeled the central figure after his own son, who was 17 at the time, to reflect the youth of many soldiers. The memorial also bears names of soldiers from Canada, New Zealand, and other Commonwealth countries, though most came from Britain.
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