SENSITIVE CONTENT – 18+ ONLY
This article discusses a harsh military punishment applied during World War I by the British Army: Field Punishment No. 1 (commonly referred to as “crucifixion”). The content is for educational and historical documentation purposes only, intended to provide a clearer understanding of wartime military discipline, the punitive measures used during the period of 1914–1918, and their psychological impact on soldiers. It is not intended to glorify violence, advocate for cruel punishment, or cause gratuitous shock.
The Brutal Punishment of World War I: Field Punishment No. 1 – The British Army’s “Crucifixion”
Background: Desertion and British Military Discipline
During World War I, the British Expeditionary Force faced rates of desertion and refusal to fight that were much higher than anticipated, particularly from 1916–1918 as the war dragged on and trench conditions became horrific (mud, rats, disease, constant shelling). To maintain discipline and prevent the widespread tide of desertion, the British Army applied severe punishments, the most notorious being Field Punishment No. 1 (FP1) – often called “crucifixion” by the soldiers.
This punishment was stipulated in the Army Act 1881 and was widely applied from 1914 to 1918. According to official statistics:
Approximately 80,000–100,000 cases were sentenced to FP1 throughout the war.
The punishment was carried out publicly in front of the entire unit as a deterrent.
What Was Field Punishment No. 1?
Soldiers sentenced to FP1 would be tied to a fixed location for a set period (usually 1–2 hours per day, lasting from a few days to several weeks, depending on the severity of the offense). There were two main forms:
FP1 Type A (the actual “crucifixion”):
The soldier was tied to a wooden post, gun carriage, wheel, or barbed wire fence with arms outstretched (resembling the image of Jesus Christ on the cross). Arms were bound horizontally, and feet were secured to the ground. They would be tied up for 1–2 hours each day, often under scorching sun or in rain and wind, right in the trenches or rear areas.
FP1 Type B (lighter form):
Tied to a post or fixed object but without outstretched arms; usually just had hands tied behind the back or were fastened to a vehicle. They still had to endure being outdoors without rest.
Both forms aimed to:
Publicly humiliate the individual before their comrades.
Deter desertion through fear of similar punishment.
Not kill directly, but cause severe physical and psychological harm.
Why Was This Punishment Considered Brutal?
Life-threatening danger:
Soldiers could be left tied in this position under shellfire, storms, or scorching heat. Some cases resulted in death from exhaustion, extreme cold, or injuries from bindings cutting into flesh. There are records of soldiers tied near the front lines being hit by shell fragments.
Psychological trauma:
Being tied up publicly in front of the entire unit, subjected to ridicule and humiliation from comrades – many subsequently suffered from severe PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).
Inhumane by modern standards:
This punishment was compared to medieval “crucifixion.” Many British officers (and later the public) protested, arguing it damaged morale rather than enhancing it.
Application in Practice and Notable Cases
The punishment was carried out mainly on the Western Front (France, Belgium).
Some soldiers were tied to artillery wheels, wooden posts, or barbed wire fences right in the trenches – where they could hear shelling and the screams of wounded comrades.
There are records of soldiers being tied up during heavy rain or prolonged heat, leading to exhaustion and fainting.
Opposition and Abolition
After the war, FP1 faced strong criticism:
Many veterans recounted the horror of witnessing comrades being tied up.
In 1923, Britain officially abolished Field Punishment No. 1 through an amendment to the Army Act.
Field Punishment No. 1 – “field crucifixion” – was one of the harshest punishments applied by the British Army during World War I. It aimed not only to punish but also to publicly humiliate as a deterrent against desertion. However, instead of enhancing fighting spirit, it often caused deep psychological trauma and reduced soldierly loyalty. This punishment reflects the harshness of wartime military discipline and the price ordinary soldiers paid in a brutal war.
Main References:
The National Archives (UK): War Office records – Army Act 1881 and Field Punishment regulations.
“Shot at Dawn” – Julian Putkowski & Julian Sykes (1989) – research on British Army discipline in WWI.
“Discipline and Morale in the British Army, 1914–1918” – David Englander (in the book “The British Army in the Great War”).
Imperial War Museum (IWM): Photographs and personal accounts of Field Punishment No. 1.
“The British Army in the First World War” – Peter Simkins & Gary Sheffield (2007).
Commonwealth War Graves Commission and archival documents on British military discipline.