A total of 26 Canadian soldiers were executed for military offences during World War I and World War II. 25 occurred during World War I for charges such as desertion or cowardice: 23 were posthumously pardoned on 16 August 2006, while the remaining two men were executed for murder and would have been executed under civilian law.

The only Canadian soldier executed in World War II was Private Harold Pringle, who was executed after Victory in Europe Day in Italy on charges of desertion and accessory to murder.

First World War During the First World War, members of the Canadian Expeditionary Force were subject to British military discipline, which allowed execution by firing squad for crimes such as desertion or cowardice. During the war, 25 Canadian soldiers were executed for purely military offences. Excluding the two who were found guilty of murder, Veteran Affairs Minister Ron Duhamel announced on December 11, 2001 that executed soldiers would have their names added to Canada's Books of Remembrance housed in Parliament Hill.

On 16 August 2006, British Defence Secretary Des Browne announced that the government would issue full pardons for all 306 Commonwealth soldiers (including the twenty-three Canadians) who were executed under these circumstances during World War I.

Executed for Desertion Sgt. William Alexander William Alexander was born in the UK during 1880, and served for 8 years in the British Army before emigrating to Canada. When the First World War started in August 1914, Alexander volunteered for service in the Canadian Army. Given his previous military service, Alexander was made a Sergeant in the 10th Battalion. After arriving in France during 1915, Sergeant Alexander fought with the battalion at the 2nd Battle of Ypres (April 1915), Festubert (May 1915) and Mount Sorrel (1916).

Following his recovery from an inflamed knee, Alexander rejoined his battalion in time for its involvement in the attack on Hill 70, which started at 04:25 on 15 August 1917. This attack was intended to act as a diversion and draw some of the German forces from the ongoing battles at Passchendaele. Because of the severe casualties suffered by the 10th Battalion, CQMS Alexander was ordered forward to take over as Platoon Sergeant of D Company; in readiness for this platoon to take part in a further attack. However, Alexander was nowhere to be found and a Corporal had to lead the Company.

Two days later, on 17 August 1917, the 10th Battalion was pulled out of the front line. It had suffered some 400 casualties.

It was not until 19 August 1917 that CQMS Alexander was found in the village used by the 10th Battalion as a billet before the attack on Hill 70. After admitting that he had gone sick, but not reported it to an officer, and the absence of any marks on his person, Alexander was arrested and charged with desertion.

Following his trial on 29 September 1917, Alexander (age 37) was executed by firing squad on 18 October 1917. His remains are located in Barlin Communal Cemetery Extension (Pas de Calais), Plot II, Row D, Grave 43.

An account of Alexander's execution was written by Canon Frederick Scott in his book The Great War as I Saw It. (Although Canon Scott does not name Alexander, the date of this execution, October 1917 and Scott's mention that the condemned soldier had no next of kin makes Alexander, rather than Private Thomas L. Moles, the subject.)

Alexander is listed in the Canadian Book of Remembrance on page 603.

Lance-Bombardier Frederick Arnold Born in Cleveland, Ohio on 25 April 1890, Frederick Stanley Arnold initially served in the US Army before enlisting in the Canadian Field Artillery in September 1914.

Once stationed in France, Arnold fought at the Battle of Festubert and the Battle of Givenchy, twice being admitted to hospital, once for simple illness, and then to be treated for shell shock. After his discharge, Arnold disappeared on 5 June 1916, and was arrested at a nearby port dressed in civilian clothes. He was court-martialled on 5 July 1916, and executed at 04:37 on 25 July 1916. He is buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Plot VIII, Row A, Grave 137.

Pte. Fortunat Auger Born in Montreal in December 1890, Fortunat Auger joined the CEF's 14th Battalion in September 1914.

Auger was present during both the Second Battle of Ypres and the Battle of Festubert in 1915. After the 14th Battalion was transferred following his battalion's move to Ploegsteert Wood that summer, Auger's conduct became increasingly belligerent.

He was twice charged with going AWOL, before disappearing for two days in December and returning to find himself charged with desertion. His charge was lessened to AWOL once again, but he was sentenced to serve 12 months hard labour. His sentence was suspended a month later, and he was returned to his battalion, from which he immediately left. He was arrested three days later, on January 11, and sentenced to death for desertion.

The 25-year-old Private was executed by firing squad at 05:43 on 26 March 1916, and his remains were buried in Trois Arbres Cemetery, Plot III, Row H, Grave 5.

Pte. Harold Carter Born on 26 March 1894 in Toronto, Ontario, Harold George Carter enlisted in the 59th Battalion in March 1915. In January 1916, he was charged with going AWOL.

The Battalion was disbanded upon reaching England at the end of 1916, and its troops were used to re-man other units who had taken high casualty rates during the war. Carter was transferred to the 73rd Battalion, part of the 4th Canadian Division.

He was again found AWOL, during the September Battle of Flers-Courcelette, and was found guilty of desertion and sentenced to death. His sentence was commuted to 10 years' imprisonment. After serving six months, his sentence was suspended, and he was re-attached to his unit on March 16, 1917.

Within three weeks, Carter once again went AWOL, this time just before the Battle of Vimy Ridge, eluding military police for five days before being re-captured. He was court-martialled and found guilty of desertion. Sentenced to death, Carter was executed by firing squad on 20 April 1917.

Carter's remains are today located in Villers Station Cemetery, Plot X, Row A, Grave 7.

Pte. Gustave Comté Born on 24 February 1895 in Montreal, Gustave Comté enlisted in the 57th Battalion in September 1915. Comté travelled with the battalion to France, but was transferred to the 22nd Battalion (aka "Van Doo", then part of the 5th Canadian Brigade CEF) because of their recent loss of infantry.

Private Comté went missing just before the attack on Vimy Ridge began, on April 4, 1917, as the 22nd began moving to the front lines through Gouy-Servins. He was found in Le Havre on 18 May, and a court martial sentenced him to death for desertion.

At 04:45 on 3 July 1917, Comté was executed by firing squad. His remains are now located in Aix-Noulette Communal Cemetery Extension, Plot I, Row F, Grave 20.

Pte. Arthur Dagesse Arthur Charles Dagesse was born in New Bedford MA in 1886. On 23 September 1914, one month after the outbreak of war, Dagesse enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) under the name Dagasse. His conduct as a soldier started badly and continued in poor fashion, with no fewer than fifteen convictions, thirteen for absence and two for drunkenness.

On 4 April 1917, just before his unit's participation in the Vimy Ridge attack, Dagesse went absent until his arrest in Paris on 29 April 1917. While awaiting trial for this offence, Dagesse escaped custody and remained absent for five months before being re-arrested in Paris on 4 October 1917. When he was arrested for the second time, Dagesse was wearing the uniform of a Sergeant in the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC).

Following his court-martial on 26 February 1918, Dagasse was found guilty of two counts of desertion and sentenced to death.

At 06:37 on 15 March 1918, Dagesse (aged 31) was executed by firing squad. His remains are now located in Lapugnoy Military Cemetery, Plot VIII, Row B, Grave 8.

Pte. Léopold Delisle Léopold Delisle was born in Montreal in 1893. Following the outbreak of war, Delisle tried to enlist three times before he was finally accepted for overseas service in April 1915. One month later, Delisle sailed with the 22nd (French-Canadian) Battalion.

Delisle had a number of offences on his conduct sheet.

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Date ! Offence ! Punishment |- |25 June 1915 |Refusing to obey an order |14 days' Field Punishment No 1 |- |1 September 1915 |Drunk & absent from parade |Fined $2 |- |5 November 1915 |Insubordination |7 days' Field Punishment No 2 |- |27 November 1915 |Absent from parade |Fined 1 days' pay |- |8 January 1916 |Refusing to go on parade |28 days' Field Punishment No 1 |- |22 March 1916 |Striking a superior officer |1 years' Hard Labour |- |5 September 1917 |Outside area without pass |3 days' Field Punishment No 1 |- |10 September 1917 |AWOL from drill parade |21 days' Field Punishment No 1

On 29 March 1918 Delisle's unit was ordered forward to attempt to stem the German advance on Arras, but when the roll call was made, Delisle was absent. Delisle was arrested just outside Arras five days later. Delisle's court-martial found him guilty of desertion and sentenced him to be shot dead.

At 04:24 on 21 May 1918, Delisle (aged 25) was executed by firing squad. His remains are now located in Bellacourt Military Cemetery, Plot II, Row J, Grave 6.

Pte. Edward Fairburn Edward Fairburn was born in St. Catharines, Ontario on 21 September 1895. After enlisting in November 1915, Fairburn was sent to France as part of a reinforcement for the 18th (Western Ontario) Battalion.

After a period of service, Fairburn went missing during the week of 9–16 April 1917 and remained missing for 10 months before being arrested just north of Arras.

On 2 March 1918, Fairburn (aged 23) was executed by firing squad. His remains are now located in Villers Station Cemetery, Plot XI, Row B, Grave 23, 11 kilometres northwest of Arras.

Pte. Stephen McDermott Fowles Stephen McDermott Fowles was born on 13 June 1897 in Winnipeg. On February 16, 1916, he enlisted in the 107th Battalion, which sailed for England in September 1916. He was later sent to France as part of a reinforcement of the 44th Canadian Infantry Battalion.

Private Fowles was treated for a self inflicted gunshot wound to the left hand on February 3, 1916, and eight days later he was sent back into the field. Within a year of his enlistment, he was court-martialled for desertion and found guilty. His sentence of death was reduced during the confirmation process to 10 years' imprisonment, which was itself later reduced to a suspended sentence and he was returned to his unit.

Despite these events, Private Fowles deserted and on 29 December 1917 was again sentenced to death. For a second time, the sentence was commuted to a suspended sentence. Given the need to combat the German offensive, he was returned to his unit.

Shortly after rejoining his unit, Private Fowles deserted for a 3rd time and was not detained until he turned himself in on 2 May 1918. He was court-martialled for desertion, found guilty and sentenced to death. At 03:50 on 19 June 1918, Stephen McDermott Fowles was executed by firing squad. He had just turned 21. His remains are now located in Villers Station Cemetery, Plot XIII, Row B, Grave 1.

Pte. John Maurice Higgins John Maurice Higgins was born on 26 September 1891 in Charlottetown, before moving with his parents to Toronto.

After enlisting in the 87th Battalion in Montreal, Higgins sailed with the battalion to England during April 1916.

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Date ! Offence ! Punishment |- |10 May 1916 |Absent Without Leave (AWOL) |Fined 3 days' pay

|12 May 1916 |Absent Without Leave (AWOL) |12 days' Field Punishment No.1 and transferred as a reinforcement to the 1st (Western Ontario) Battalion in Belgium