Pardon? MoD shoots from the hip

So we are now pardoning those shot at dawn in WWI. That they were shot is a tragedy - pardon will make no difference to that fact or their fate - they were shot (rightly or not) for being cowards or deserters. Are they now 'not guilty'? Are they to be compensated? It brings into disrepute the conduct of their leaders, those who judged them and those who struggled on, many to die in action. That so few were shot for cowardice (fewer than 20 refusing a direct order to put themselves in harms way) is a credit to those who served and those who led them. My view – pardon was a big mistake.