Private Thomas James Highgate (13 May 1895 – 8 September 1914) was a British soldier during the First World War and the first British soldier to be convicted of desertion and executed by firing squad on the Western Front. He was born in Shoreham and worked as a farm labourer before joining the army in 1913 as a seaman. When the First World War began, he fought with the First Battalion of the Royal West Kents. Highgate was executed 35 days into the war, on 8 September 1914, after being found hiding in a farmhouse wearing civilian clothes. His death was made as public as possible and used as an example to other soldiers. Highgate's name was not included on the war memorial at Shoreham; from the late 1990s onwards, some local residents fought for his name to be added whilst others disagreed. Posthumous pardons for soldiers who had been executed, including Highgate, were announced in 2006.
Thomas Highgate was born in 13 May 1895 in Shoreham, Kent.[1][2] He was one of five sons to his mother, Alice Highgate.[3] His family lived in poverty and travelled between Shoreham and the outskirts of London.[4] Highgate is recorded as having worked as a farm labourer.[5] On 4 February 1913, aged 17, he joined the army and served as a seaman.[1][6] Whilst at sea, Highgate suffered a fall, was in two shipwrecks, and contracted yellow fever in Africa. Captain Tate, a medical officer at Richmond Barracks, produced a memorandum in June 1914 regarding Highgate's health. He wrote that Highgate had a "peculiar" disposition and that his illness and injury may have accounted for issues with memory loss.[7] Highgate was recorded as being absent from the army before the First World War broke out; he did not attend tattoo on 7 September 1913 or 1 July 1914, and he deserted the army from 28 February to 4 May 1914. He was caught and imprisoned for 42 days when he tried to enlist with a different unit at Woolwich in order to be closer to his brother. Despite his absences, Highgate was described as a "good worker" in his army records.[4][7]
During the First World War, Highgate was in the First Battalion of the Royal West Kents, one of the first battalions to enter combat.[6] The battalion arrived in France on 15 August 1914 and fought in the Battle of Mons.[8] By September 1914, the British Expeditionary Force were in retreat.[7] Forty-thousand British soldiers fought in the battle, and 7,800 were killed. Early on the morning of 6 September 1914, Highgate left the frontline, saying he needed to "ease himself",[9] and hid in a farmhouse. He was found by a gamekeeper, who was both English and a former soldier, while wearing civilian clothes and without his rifle.[6][7] His army uniform was discovered nearby.[6] Historian Julian Putkowski wrote that the total time of Highgate's desertion was likely "no more than an hour or two".[4] Highgate reportedly found the fighting too overwhelming;[10][11] he is recorded as having said to the gamekeeper, "I want to get out of it and this is how I am doing it". He was arrested by the gendarmes[6] and taken into custody by Captain Milward. Highgate told Milward that he did not remember having done anything except leave his bivouac shelter. In court, Highgate said that he remembered walking around, entering the farm, lying down in a civilian house, and putting on civilian clothes but did not recall much else.[7]
Highgate was not the only soldier to act dishonourably during the retreat from Mons; two officers attempted to surrender their battalions to the enemy. They were discharged and did not face the death penalty.[12] There were other instances of soldiers looting and travelling with civilians, as well as one allegation of rape. As a result, there were concerns about discipline throughout the British Expeditionary Force.[7]