Musician's walk to mark grave of pardoned First World War soldier

George Hunter was a young father from Stockton who, suffering from what would later be known as shell shock, and eventually post traumatic stress disorder, ran away from the trenches in 1916.

He was captured as he was reunited with his wife and children in Easingwold, near York, and transported back to Belgium, where he was found guilty of desertion and sentenced to death.

Private Hunter was shot near Ypres at dawn on July 2, 1916 – the second day of the Battle of the Somme.

He was aged aged just 25 and was first Durham Light Infantry soldier to be executed during the First World War.

Now, Stockton musician Mike McGrother is en-route to George's grave in Esquelbecq Military Cemetery in France, where he will lay sunflowers on behalf of the people of Stockton.

“During George’s trial it was acknowledged that he was suffering from a mental condition and should be seen by a doctor specialising in mental health,” said Mr McGrother.

“This was dismissed and, most likely as an example to others, George was executed. In 2006, George and 305 other British troops shot for cowardice and desertion received a posthumous pardon from the Government.

“As we move towards the centenary of the end of that horrific war, he represents the hundreds of others whose names and stories need to be remembered.

“We’re calling the walk ‘Just Like George’ because he also represents the Stockton-on-Tees residents today who, ‘like George’, are struggling with post-traumatic stress.

“This isn’t just a soldier’s condition – it affects thousands of people living among us and it is important that their stories are heard too."

The Mayor of Stockton Maurice Perry presented Mr McGrother with the sunflowers to be laid on George's grave. It follows on from the people of Stockton growing 1,245 sunflowers in memory of the borough's WW1 dead, on the centenary in 2014.

To follow Mr McGrother's journey people should visit his Facebook page www.facebook.com/georgehunter1246