Defence Forces (Second World War Amnesty and Immunity) Act 2013

Amnesty for deserters and those absent without leave in certain circumstances.

2.— (1) A relevant person who—

(a) was dismissed from the Defence Forces by virtue of Article 3 of the Order of 1945,

(b) was convicted of desertion or of being absent without leave, or

(c) was or is liable to be prosecuted for desertion or for being absent without leave,

is granted an amnesty.

(2) In this section—

“amnesty” means, in relation to each relevant person—

(a) an acknowledgement that the treatment he or she received in consequence of his or her desertion or being absent without leave is now considered to have been unduly harsh,

(b) an apology for such treatment,

(c) an acceptance that the acts of desertion and being absent without leave occurred in the special circumstances of the Second World War, and

(d) an exoneration in respect of those acts;

“relevant person” means a member of the Defence Forces who deserted or was absent without leave during the course of the Second World War and who subsequently served with forces (including the armed forces of a country) fighting on the Allied side in that war.