Debating society focuses on desertion and First World War executions as part of training session with Armed Forces charity

Northumbria Debating Society has been working with local charity, Forward Assist, to help deliver a debate training programme to veterans of the armed forces. Forward Assist focuses on helping smooth the transition from soldier to civilian through projects in the local community.

The programme with Northumbria covered democracy and the basics of British parliamentary style debating through army-related motions, such as whether to use drones. The ultimate aim of the project was to help the transition from the armed forces to civilian life by providing the veterans with confidence and employability skills. Soldiers are rarely in a position to be able to debate their opinions freely whilst serving in the armed forces and so the programme gave them the opportunity to do this.

Not only has the project been educational for the veterans, but it has also helped the students adapt their teaching methods to fit the specific target audience. It also provided an important insight into the effects of war on individuals.

A final debate was held in November at Durham Miner’s Association. It discussed local soldier, Private William Nelson of the 14^th Durham Light Infantry, who was executed in 1916 for desertion. He was 19 years old and had fought in some of the bloodiest fighting in history in the trenches at Ypres. He also had problems at home as his mother had died, his father was a prisoner of war and he had lost contact with his siblings. At his trial, which lasted only 5 minutes, he explained that he had been suffering with his nerves. It is very likely that Private Nelson was suffering from shell-shock, now referred to as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The debate was on the issue of whether his execution was an appropriate course of action in the circumstances.

Wayne Bell and Colin Hutchinson, former members of the armed forces, and Tabitha Bailey and Daniel Sibbit, the Events Officer and Equity Officer for Northumbria Debating Society, were arguing in favour of the execution of Private Nelson. Neil Tully, a former member of the armed forces, Michael McHugh, a volunteer at Forward Assist, and Ria Wilkinson and Dominic Armstrong, the President and Training Officer for Northumbria Debating Society, were arguing against the execution of Private Nelson. The debate was judged by Dave Anderson MP, Daniel Wood from the Parliamentary Outreach Team, and journalist Mike Kelly. After much deliberation it was decided that those arguing for the execution of Private Nelson had won the debate. Special congratulations to Dominic Armstrong and Michael McHugh who were chosen as the best individual speakers.

The programme will culminate in a trip to the Houses of Parliament in February 2015. The visit will be hosted by Dave Anderson MP and Baroness D’Souza, Lord Speaker in the House of Lords.

For more information on Northumbria Debating Society please email ria.wilkinson@northumbria.ac.uk or follow the society on Twitter @NSUdebating. For more information on Forward Assist follow the charity on Twitter @ForwardAssist1.