217971 Dvr. Benjamin DeFehr Canadian Expeditionary Force 1st Canadian Reserve Park Canadian Army Service Corps (d.25th Aug 1916) Benjamin DeFehr served with the 1st Canadian Reserve Park as part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. He was executed for murder on 25/08/1916 and buried inHazebrouck Communal Cemetery, Hazebrouck, France.
Born on 29th March 1888 in Winkler, Manitoba, Benjamin De Fehr enlisted as a driver in the Canadian Army Service Corps following the outbreak of war, and was duly transferred to England in 1916.
He had no incidents of poor conduct, until 19 August 1916, while serving in France with the 1st Canadian Reserve Park in the rear areas near Hazebrouck. He used his rifle to shoot 43-year-old Regimental Sergeant-Major J.R. Scott in the back, killing him instantly. De Fehr was overpowered and arrested immediately.
He was officially court-martialled on 22nd August, and while he maintained that he had been drunk during the incident, several witnesses testified that he had been sober. He was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death by firing squad. De Fehr was executed three days later, and his remains are today located in Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery, only three graves away from his victim, RSM Scott.
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