Ernest Truman

Ernest Truman enlisted on 17 November 1903 aged 19 years, occupation - Groom. He served for three years and moved to reserve on 16 November 1906. He was recalled to the colours on 5 August 1914 and on 4 November 1914 went to France with 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters. He returned to UK on 28 December 1914 with bronchitis and went to 3rd reserve Battalion. He returned to France on 18 March 1915 and re-joined the 1st Battalion. On 11 August 1915 he was posted to the 2nd battalion and on 17 September 1916 was admitted to 2nd General Hospital with wounds to hand and cheek. On 6 October 1916 he joined the 9th Battalion from hospital. In the period he had leave twice - 11/11/1915 to 8/12/1915 and 7 to 30 January 1918. He overstayed his leave by three days and received 14 days Field Punishment No1. On 18th April 1918 the Battle of Bethune raged close to the battalion's front but no attack was launched against them. The battalion were relieved by 7th South Stafford's during the evening and at some point Ernest was killed. John Morse

Nottingham Evening Post obituary (abridged) 25 October 1918: 'TRUMAN, killed in action April 18th 1918, Private Ernest Truman, Sherwood Foresters, also his brother Arthur Truman, Royal West Kents, reported missing October 18th 1917 now officially dead. Mother, sisters, brother Jack (Carrington).' He is buried in Philosophe British cemetery, Mazingarbe France grave III.C.37 Field Punishment was introduced in 1881 following the abolition of flogging, and was a common punishment during World War I. A commanding officer could award field punishment for up to 28 days, while a court martial could award it for up to 90 days. Field Punishment Number One, often abbreviated to ‘F.P. No. 1’ or even just ‘No. 1’, consisted of the convicted man being placed in fetters and handcuffs or similar restraints and attached to a fixed object, such as a gun wheel or a fence post, for up to two hours per day. During the early part of World War I, the punishment was often applied with the arms stretched out and the legs tied together, giving rise to the nickname ‘crucifixion’. This was applied for up to three days out of four, up to 21 days total. It was usually applied in field punishment camps set up for this purpose a few miles behind the front line, but when the unit was on the move it would be carried out by the unit itself. It has been alleged that this punishment was sometimes applied within range of enemy fire. During World War I Field Punishment Number One was issued by the British Army on 60210 occasions. Field Punishment Number One was eventually abolished in 1923, when an amendment to the Army Act which specifically forbade attachment to a fixed object was passed by the House of Lords. (Wikipedia)