The memorial on Plymouth Hoe

Plymouth has been a military town for many centuries so there are many memorials, some grand and imposing, others small and intimate, which commemorate important campaigns in the nation's history, undertaken by forces with a strong local connection. They range from Drake's defeat of The Spanish Armada through the two World Wars to more recent episodes.

But perhaps the least well known of these memorials is this small cross set in the tarmac on one of the paths across Plymouth Hoe.

This small cross marks the spot of the last public execution in the city.

Derek Tait a well known local historian explains what happened.

  " This marks the spot where three Royal Marines were executed by firing squad on 6 July, 1797. Their names were Lee, Coffy and Branning and they were found guilty of attempting to excite a mutiny at Stonehouse Barracks. 

Ten thousand men of the Fleet and garrison were there to watch them die and most of Plymouth appeared to have turned out too. When the three men faced the firing squad and the shots were fired, Coffy and Branning fell forward, dead, into their coffins. However, Lee was not hit and had to go through the whole procedure again. The reserve firing squad lined up, took aim and fired but again Lee was untouched. Once more, they loaded up, took aim but again missed Lee. In the end, a sergeant came up behind him and shot him dead at close range. It seems odd that the firing squad missed Lee three times and perhaps there was some sympathy with him amongst the troops.

Earlier fourteen seamen had been hanged at the yardarm on their ships in the Sound.
This was to be Plymouth's last public execution".

Visit Derek Tait's website