General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien said that he "should be killed as publicly as possible". Men from the 1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment and 1st Battalion, Dorset Regiment witnessed the execution in person.
General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien requested that his execution be carried out in a way that would draw attention to himself. Members of the 1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment and 1st Battalion, Dorset Regiment were present to see the execution take place.