Stones, whose previous bravery had been acknowledged by officers, had wedged his non- functioning rifle across a narrow trench to slow down Germans who were pursuing him. He was deemed to have "cast away his arms" and was executed.Pte Joseph Byers was underage when he enlisted in 1914. By January 1915, the war had ground the young man down and he went absent without leave. He was shot by firing squad three weeks later.Sgt Joe Stones of the Durham Light Infantry was arrested in January 1917 after an ambush in which his commanding officer was killed. He told me that he had lost his way and had been wandering about for two days."Another 19-year-old, Pte James Archibald of the 17th Royal Scots, told his comrades he "felt queer" while en route to the trenches at 6.30pm on 14 May 1916 At 3pm the next day, he was found asleep in a barn. Others appeared to have wandered away from the battlefield in states of extreme distress and confusion, yet they were charged with desertion.One 19-year-old, Pte George Roe of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, was executed for desertion, even though one witness told his court martial: "[Roe] came up to me and asked if I was a policeman.

Although only 11 per cent of the sentences were carried out, those who were shot at dawn were denied legal representation and the right of appeal. But 307 of them were executed by their comrades, often for little more than being frightened, confused young men. Between 1914 and 1920, more than 3,000 British soldiers were sentenced to death by courts martial for desertion, cowardice, striking an officer, disobedience, falling asleep on duty or casting away arms. Medical evidence which showed that many were suffering from shell-shock - or post traumatic stress disorder - was either not submitted to the courts or was ignored. Most hearings lasted no more than 20 minutes.Transcripts made public 75 years after the events suggest that some of the men were underage.

They were sick, cold, hungry, tired and terrified. They saw their friends bombed, gassed and cut to pieces in spectacular numbers and they were reduced to trembling wrecks by relentless shellfire and the imminence of their own demise. Many had lied about their age to fight for King and Country. No woman is going to walk out if her marriage is OK." He challenged Mr Kelly publicly to deny having assaulted his wife, despite evidence given in court that he was convicted on 15 May 1996.Letters, page 15. Mr Falconer said the family had been angered by Mr Kelly's appearances on television.

"What's been going on is, this guy's been saying, when he went along to the TV studios, `I hope Lynne is getting counselling and I hope the family are taking care of her' That's what he should have been doing. I would be more concerned about the protracted uncertainty and anxiety."Mrs Kelly was in hiding last night with representatives of the Daily Record and The Mirror, but her uncle, Willie Falconer, said that the family had been shocked by revelations in court that Mr Kelly was convicted of assaulting her last year."How would you feel if it were your sister or your niece that was getting beaten up?" he said. At 14 weeks there is twice the risk of complications than at, say six or eight weeks But this risk is still only two per thousand ... But, for the woman, it becomes more prolonged and uncomfortable. From an ethical and medical point of view, there is no problem up until that point.

He said the type of abortion favoured by Mrs Kelly could be safely performed up to 18 weeks."Abortion is legal up to 24 weeks. But more than a week has now passed, so that starts to leave questions in my mind. If the case goes to the House of Lords, who knows when it will be heard? That could make the difference of me having to have a labour-induced termination - and that is something I would have very strong doubts about."David Paintin, a retired gynaecologist and chairman of the Birth Control Trust, said the delay of an extra week did not represent a significant increase in the complications. They simply could not convene five law lords and clerks and court staff before Monday."The delay could have an influence over 21-year-old Mrs Kelly's decision to abort or proceed with the pregnancy.