217953 Pte. John Henry Abigail British Army 8th Btn. Norfolk Regiment from:Norwich, (d.12th Sep 1917) John Henry Abigail served with the Norfolk Regiment 8th Battalion. He was executed for desertion on 12th September 1917, aged 20 and is buried in Esquelbecq Communal Cemetery, Nord, France.
It's a long story, a very sad one. In brief he came from a very poor family, with more than it's share of troubles. John's parents exhibited what I think now would be termed a "chaotic lifestyle" often leaving their children to go without food. His father may well have been an alcoholic, more inclined to spend his hard earned cash; (he was a drayman) on beer in the local pubs and beer houses around Oak Street, than to spend it on his family.
John went to war being called up in March 1916 he left Distillery Square down near the Anchor Brewery. He fought through some fairly hideous experiences in the 8th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, finding himself in the charnel house that was the Somme including actions at Delville Wood (aka Devil's Wood) where he was wounded.
On return to Britain he went AWOL twice from a camp near Felixstowe, extenuating circumstances, relating to his family, may have led to him not feeling the full impact of the law, but still being given everything from detention, and pay cuts to field punishment, On at least one of these instances his father was imprisoned leaving his younger siblings without any care other than those which the corporation and the early NSPCC could give, so he ran home. The battalion were eventually sent back out, this time to fight at Arras, he deserted again and was found near 'Eat Apples' or Etaple, a training camp, also known as The Bullring, on the coast. He was sent back again this time to Comines. Under the mud, blood and bombardment of Passchedaele he deserted again, this time was the last time, he was found wandering behind the lines.
I think it's reasonable to believe that he was suffering from shellshock/PTSD. This time they didn't let him off. So far as I'm aware he is the only soldier who was shot at dawn who is remembered on his local memorial. Poor lads.
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