218130 Pte. Henri Hesey Kerr Canadian Expeditionary Forces 7th Btn. (d.21st Nov 1916) Henry Hesey Kerr was executed for desertion 21/11/191 and buried in Les Quatre-Vents Military Cemetery, Estree-Cauchy, France.
He had been absent for 24 hours
Henry Hesey Kerr was born in Montreal on 4 September 1891.
After the battalion had arrived in England, Kerr was punished for 3 more periods of AWOL on 27 November 1915, 3 December 1915 and 3 January 1916.
After entering France and joining the 7th (British Columbia) Battalion, Kerr's conduct continued to decline. After several more warnings about his conduct, Kerr rejoined his unit in October 1916 as it prepared to attack Regina Trench as part of the Somme Offensive. However, Kerr went absent after being warned for duty in the front line. 24 hours later, Kerr was arrested when he was discovered in some billets located some miles behind the front lines.
On 7 November 1916, Kerr was charged with desertion. His court-martial found him guilty and sentenced him to death by shooting. At 06:45 on 21 November 1916, Kerr was executed by firing squad.
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