HOPES have been raised that pardons are being considered for some of the British soldiers shot for cowardice in the face of the enemy during the First World War.

They include Sgt Jack Wall of the 3rd Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment, who was executed on September 6, 1917, when he was 21.

Defence Secretary Des Browne is said to be actively considering some of the 306 cases of men who were put to death by firing squad.

Mr Browne, who became Defence Secretary in the most recent cabinet reshuffle, has said he is prepared to look at the whole posthumous pardon issue.

Tony Blair also gave an encouraging reply at Prime Minister's Questions last week, when member Andrew Mackinlay asked for a review of the executions.

Mr Mackinlay wants it to coincide with the 90th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, on July 1.

But Sgt Wall's great niece, Jill Turner, who is campaigning for him to be exonerated rather than just pardoned, said she did not know

what to make of these latest developments.

"I wrote a strong letter to Des Browne, reminding him that he was a humanitarian as a back bencher and asking if he was now kow-towing to the powers that be," she said.

"I have still not had an answer from him."

Sgt Wall, who came from Tenbury Wells, was fighting on the France-Belgium border when he and two other soldiers became separated from their battalion.

They took cover until it was safe to rejoin the company and Sgt Wall was subsequently charged with desertion.