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Admiral John Byng's trial verdict to be reviewed
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PMarione
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Post Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 2:57 pm    Post subject: Admiral John Byng's trial verdict to be reviewed Reply with quote

MPs URGED TO REVIEW CASE OF EXECUTED ADMIRAL
by Elizabeth Barrett PA, Press Association National Newswire (13 March 2008)

Quote:
Campaigners were today handing over a petition calling for the House of Commons to review the trial verdict of an Admiral who was executed in 1757 following the defeat of the British Navy.
Admiral John Byng was court martialled and shot on the quarterdeck of his own ship after being found guilty of neglect of duty.
Byng, the fourth son of Admiral Viscount Torrington, was sent to save the British-held island of Menorca which was under siege from the French.
However, British efforts to engage the French fleet at the port failed and the island was lost.
Supporters of Byng have always argued that he was made a scapegoat for the inadequacies of the Government and his naval superiors at the time.
The petition to be handed to Alistair Burt, Conservative MP for North East Bedfordshire, at Westminster asks that Byng be declared innocent
posthumously.
Byng is buried in the vault at All Saints Church in Southill, Bedfordshire.
Today's move is being spearheaded by the Friends of All Saints Southill, parishioners in Southill, plus family members of Admiral John Byng.
The petition grew out of the sense of injustice felt by Byng's supporters during the memorial service held last year to mark the 250th anniversary of his death.
Speaking from Brussels today, Thane Byng, Admiral Byng's ancestral niece, said: "The fact the church has taken up this initiative is quite the most extraordinary affair. We know that it will take a long time, but those supporting the petition are determined. "This is a good time to work towards the restoration of the honour of Admiral Byng."
Mr Burt has pledged to raise the issue in the House of Commons later
this week and the matter is then expected to be considered by the
Ministry of Defence.
Mr Burt said: "It's clear people feel strongly that certain wrongs of the past be put right. Whether he might have been treated differently today is what this is about.
"We are asking for a review to see if the extreme punishment this man suffered was appropriate. The charge was that Byng failed in his duties.
His supporters are entitled to their views and I am happy to receive this petition and raise the matter in Parliament."

A concert devised by Mrs Byng and entitled "The Musket Ball" in reference to the gunshot which killed Admiral Byng will take place on Friday at All Saints Church in Southill to mark Byng's tragic fate.
All Saints church warden, Nico Rodenburg, who handed over the 600-strong petition today said: "It's important because there was clearly a miscarriage of justice 251 years ago. He was made a scapegoat for the weakness of the Crown and the inefficiencies of the Government. They needed somebody to blame".
Mr Rodenburg maintained Byng had done his best.
He said when the Admiral had decided to sail to Gibraltar to strengthen his fleet following the first clash with the French he had not been allowed to return to Menorca.


(c)2008, The Press Association, All Rights Reserved
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alexlitandem



Joined: 27 Mar 2007
Posts: 129

Post Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 10:55 am    Post subject: If Byng pardoned... who next? Reply with quote

An interesting article on this, from the Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/mar/15/military.immigrationpolicy
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