GAZETTE & HERALD: The nephew of a Chippenham soldier executed at dawn for desertion during the First World War has voiced his support for a campaign for a pardon.

Ninety years ago Lance Corporal Joseph Stanley Victor Fox was blindfolded and shot after he was found guilty of desertion but his nephew Williams Martin never knew the true fate of his uncle until he read the story in the Gazette.

"It was a surprise to find out like this," said Mr Martin, 79, from Biddestone.

"All I know about him is that he didn't come back from the First World War."

Mr Martin's mother was Sissie Martin, Lance Corporal Fox's sister. Mr Martin was born at 45 The Causeway, the house where his uncle grew up but he said no-one had talked about what happened.

"I think he should be pardoned," he said.

"What they did to him was not very good. It seems it was the senior officers who wanted him to be executed."

Lance Corporal Fox was only 20 years old when he was executed and he was serving with 3 Division

Cyclists Company in Belgium when he was separated from his patrol in October 1914.

Now the Shot at Dawn campaign is working to secure a pardon for Lance Corporal Fox and another 305 young soldiers who were executed, some aged only 17.