Field Punishment Number One

Friday 25th January 1918

The 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment has reached Villorba in its march towards the front line on the River Piave. The adjutant of 7th Bedfords has mentioned that one of its ranks, 26680 Private S Dealey of D Company has been sentenced to fourteen days Field Punishment Number One for being absent without leave - he overstayed his leave from 22nd December to 1st January.

Field Punishment Number One involves tying the man in a standing position to a fixed object such as a wagon or gun carriage for up to two hours per day(1). This is designed primarily to give rise to feelings of shame in the man concerned. He also loses pay and is subject to hard labour for the duration of his punishment.

Source: X550/2/5;

(1) The late Richard Holmes in his 2004 book Tommy stated that the punishment was handed down 60,210 times during the war.