Ernest Thurtle

Ernest Thurtle (11 November, 1884, New York State-22 August, 1954) was a Labour Member of Parliament. He represented Shoreditch, London from 1923–31 and 1935–50. He then served in Shoredich and Finsbury from 1950–54.

His greatest achievement in Parliament was to bring about the abolition of the death penalty for cowardice or desertion in the British Army. Over 300 British soldiers were shot in cold blood by their comrades after brief trials in the First World War. Thurtle first introduced the measure for the abolition in 1924 and it became Labour party policy in 1925 and was eventually approved by the House of Commons when Labour was the party in power in 1930. Supporters of the measure included TE Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) but the abolition was rejected at first by the House of Lords who were encouraged in their resistance by various retired generals including Lord Allenby. The House of Commons insisted and the measure was enacted.

The argument that it would reduce the determination of the soldiers was countered by the fact that the Australians had always made it clear when they joined the war effort, that none of their men were to be executed for these crimes. No Australians were shot for cowardice or desertion and yet it was clear that their troops had been as effective as any others in the war.

Thurtle was a Labour whip and a junior minister at the Ministry of Information from 1941 to 1945. He was also a journalist and author.

Thurtle saw service in the army in World War One and was badly wounded at Cambrai. In 1912 he married Dorothy, daughter of George Lansbury, leader of the Labour Party in the 1930s.

References

• E Thurtle: Times winged chariot Chaterson, London, 1945

External links

• Shot at Dawn