Hundreds of soldiers who were executed for cowardice or desertion during the first World War will not be posthumously pardoned by the British government.
A review of their cases followed a backbench campaign calling for them to be re-examined, which was led by Labour's Mr Andrew Mackinlay. For 80 years there has been concern that brave men, suffering from shellshock after months in the trenches, had been wronged.
In a Commons statement, the Armed Forces Minister, Dr John Reid, expressed a "deep sense of regret" at the loss of life and announced that parliament would be invited to abolish the death penalty for military offences in the British armed forces - "in peace and in war". He said ministers would consider adding the missing names to books of remembrance and war memorials across Britain.
After a lengthy review of the 306 executions, Dr Reid said: "The point is that now, 80 years after the events and on the basis of the evidence, we cannot distinguish between those who deliberately let down their country and their comrades in arms, and those who were not guilty of desertion or cowardice."
Mr Tom Stones, whose great uncle Joseph Stones was shot at dawn for "shamefully casting away his arms in the presence of the enemy", said he will not rest until he gets a pardon for him.
Sergeant Joseph Stones, of the 19 Durham Light Infantry, was on a patrol which was ambushed by a German raiding party and he jammed his rifle across the trench to stop the Germans advancing while he ran back to raise the alarm.
"This is a clear case of total injustice. I'm not giving up until I get a full pardon for him," Mr Stones said.
Mr MacKinlay, who has campaigned on the issue, said he was pleased the government had acted, even though it had not issued a pardon.
"We must bear in mind this is the first minister in 80 years that has come to parliament and acknowledged wrong was done," he told BBC radio. "It was a profoundly moving occasion."