Conclusion.
I should say that in the above summary I have confined myself to the result of the inquiries I made at General Head-quarters and in the area of our occupation, and have not attempted to summarise the evidence I had previously taken from the British officers and soldiers at the base, as the latter may be left to speak for itself in the depositions already published by the Committee. The object of the summary is to show how far independent inquiries on the spot go to confirm it. The testimony of our soldiers as to the reign of terror which they found prevailing on their arrival in all the places from which they drove the enemy out was amply confirmed by these subsequent and local investigations.
It will, of course, be understood that these inquiries of mine were limited in scope and can by no means claim to be exhaustive. For one thing, I was the only representative of the Home Office sent to France for this purpose; for another, I did not become attached to General Head-quarters until the beginning of February, and before that time little or nothing had been done in the way of systematic inquiry by the Staff, whose officers had other and more pressing duties to perform. By that time the testimony to many grave incidents, especially in the field, had perished with those who witnessed them and they remained but a sombre memory. The hearsay evidence of these things which was sometimes all that was left made an impression on my mind as deep as it was painful, but it would have been contrary to the rules of evidence, to which I have striven to conform, for me to take notice of it.
Two things clearly emerge from this observation. One is that had there been from the beginning of the campaign a regular system of inquiry at General Head-quarters into these things, pari passu with their occurrence, the volume of evidence, great though it is, would have been infinitely greater; the other, that, as there is only too much reason to suppose that with the growing vindictiveness of the enemy things will be worse before they are better, the case for the establishment of such a system throughout the continuance of the War is one that calls for serious consideration.
Although I have some claims to write as a jurist I have here made no attempt to pray in aid the Hague Regulations in order to frame the counts of an indictment. The Germans have broken all laws, human and divine, and not even the ancient freemasonry of arms, whose honourable traditions are almost as old as war itself, has restrained them in their brutal and licentious fury. It is useless to attempt to discriminate between the people and their rulers; an abundance of diaries of soldiers in the ranks shows that all are infected with a common spirit. That spirit is pride, not the pride of high and pure endeavour, but that pride for which the Greeks found a name in the word ὕβρις, the insolence which knows no pity and feels no love. Long ago Renan warned Strauss of this canker which was eating into the German character. Pedants indoctrinated it, Generals instilled it, the Emperor preached it. The whole people were taught that war was a normal state of civilisation, that the lust of conquest and the arrogance of race were the most precious of the virtues. On this Dead Sea fruit the German people have been fed for a generation until they are rotten to the core.
Chapter III
DOCUMENTARY
I
DEPOSITIONS AND STATEMENTS (FIFTY-SIX IN NUMBER) ILLUSTRATING BREACHES OF THE LAWS OF WAR BY THE GERMAN TROOPS, MAINLY OUTRAGES ON BRITISH SOLDIERS
Note.—These documents are here made public for the first time. They have not been published either in the Bryce Report or in the Nineteenth Century and After. I have selected the cases of Bailleul and Doulieu as typical of all the rest. Many other communes, e.g., Meteren, Steenwerck, La Gorgue, Vieux-Berquin, suffered a similar fate. As regards Bailleul itself I have given only one out of some twenty documents in my possession relating to the rapes committed there; the others are in no way inferior in authenticity, nor are they any less horrible. My object is not to multiply proofs, but to exemplify them. It will be observed that the evidence of British soldiers here given is that of eye-witnesses, except, of course, in cases of rape. As regards the latter, the hearsay evidence is fully corroborated by the French depositions of the victims.—J. H. M.
(1)
Private R. R——, 1st Royal Scots:—At Ypres, on November 11th (the day I was wounded), the Germans had made an attack on the trenches in front of us—we were back in the dug-outs. We went up to support and drove them back. In the trench were about a dozen Germans, our men having retired towards us. The Germans were kneeling with one hand up to let us see that they had surrendered; so we thought it was all right, and we turned our attention to firing at those who were retiring. One of the officers of our regiment, but not of my company, was at the side of the trench and had picked up a rifle to fire at the retreating Germans. I saw one of the Germans who had surrendered—I think he was an officer—raise his revolver (we had had no time to disarm them) and shoot at our officer, who dropped. Another man and I then shot the German.
(2)
Private W. M——, 1st Wilts, — Company:—(1) On the Aisne, between September 14th and 22nd, I was in B Company and going to A Company for a wounded man. I am a bandsman and have acted as stretcher-bearer. The Germans came out of a wood with a white flag. The captain (Captain R——) of — Company gave the order to cease fire—the Company was in the trenches. Captain R—— went forward alone towards the Germans, and the German officer then shot Captain R—— with his revolver and the rest of the Germans opened a heavy fire. Number — Company replied and drove the Germans back.
(2) At La Bassée, between October 12th and 27th, the Germans had shelled our trenches and driven us out, their infantry advancing in close formation. By that time only eleven out of B Company, including myself, were left. The Germans were within fifty yards of us and so we retired through a brewery down to a farm-house. We went upstairs—a mixed lot from various regiments (West Kents, Royal Irish Rifles, etc.), and began firing from the windows. From the upstairs we saw the Germans bayoneting those of our wounded who had been left in the trenches or placed under cover by us eleven, behind them, or had crawled along.
(3) At La Coutérie,92 about 3 kilometres from La Bassée, it must have been before October 12th, because that was the day we got to La Bassée, we took possession of a farm-house for a dressing station. The farmer’s wife frequently took food and clothes down to the cellar, she said it was for her daughter; the daughter would not come up. The mother, who was crying as she told us, made out to us that the “Allemands” had outraged her daughter—she held up five fingers.
(3)
Private J. S——, Rifle Brigade, 1st Battalion:—On a Sunday at end of October or beginning of November, just outside Bailleul, near Nieppe, we rested for three hours, having just come out of billets. The Germans had only just left—the chalk-marks of the different regiments were still on the doors. There were a lot of refugees outside an estaminet, among them a mother and two daughters. One daughter looked scared to death, her eyes staring out of her head. She was a girl of about twenty-three, who looked rather delicate. The girl said nothing, stood there and stared like a lunatic. The mother told a group of us in broken English and partly in French—I know some French. She said, “Les Allemands couchent avec ma fille”—that the Germans—she made it appear about eight—had outraged her daughter. We did not go into the estaminet—it was forbidden.
(4)
Captain C—— W——, Bedfords, 2nd Battalion:—At Bailleul, I saw a great deal of evidence of wanton destruction—mirrors broken and furniture smashed. A German cavalry regiment had done it. I was in three different billets there, and in all three the same thing had happened.
(5)
Private S——, K. O. Scottish Borderers:—At Ypres, about a month ago, I was in the trenches and one of our men went out of the trenches to get a drink of water (from a spring about seven yards away). He was wounded in the leg, and an officer (Lieutenant S——, of B Company) sent over for the stretcher-bearers, who were at head-quarters about 300 yards from the support trenches. They were carrying this fellow away when one of the stretcher-bearers was “sniped” from about 300 yards. There was no firing at the time. Another man came of B Company, named G——, volunteered and took the wounded stretcher-bearer’s place, and then he was wounded too. G—— was put on a stretcher and was again wounded by a sniper. Cases of this kind were very common.
(6)
Private J. C——, Scottish Fusiliers, 1st Battalion:—At Locre, near Bailleul, I was billeted in the church there at the beginning of December. The church had not been shelled, but had been looted and the crucifixes had been smashed, and all the images and things of value appeared to have been torn away.
(7)
Corporal J. D. B—— (at that time Bombardier in the 49th Battery R.F.A.) now of the 40th Brigade Ammunition Column R.F.A.:—On August 23rd at Mons, we got the order to advance up a hill with our battery. We got a section of guns in action in a ploughed field, and then we had a sergeant hit with a gunshot wound in the back (it was Sergeant T——, of the 49th Battery R.F.A.). Sergeant R——, of the 49th, asked me to take Sergeant T—— to an ambulance. I took him through a wood, and on the outside of the wood I saw a girl quite naked, running for all she was worth. She appeared to me to be about nineteen years of age. Her body was covered with blood and there was blood all over her breasts. She ran into some trenches on my right. I do not know what regiment occupied them, but I heard afterwards that an officer of the Gordons got hold of her. I went straight on with the sergeant down into Mons, and took him to the field hospital.
(8)
Private S——, C Company, 1st King’s R.R.:—It was on September 11th, I can never forget that date, it was after we left the Marne, and a day or two before the Aisne, we were engaged with the enemy at a distance of about 1,200 yards. They put up a white flag in their centre and waved it from side to side. We stopped firing, whereupon they fired heavily from their right flank. A second time they put up the white flag, this time on the right flank; but we took no notice of this and kept on firing.
(9)
R. McK——, 2nd Royal Irish, — Co.:—About the end of November, near Neuve Chapelle, there was a heavy attack, and we retired to get reinforcements, and left Sergeant G—— wounded in the leg in the trenches; when I last saw him he was binding up his wound. About 300 yards back we got reinforcements, and as we were advancing we saw three Germans bayoneting Sergeant G——.
(10)
R. McK——, 2nd Royal Irish, at Mt. Kemmel:—On Monday I was sent to get water from a pump in the yard of a house about 50 yards behind the line, a farm-house, and in the kitchen I saw seven men and three women, a poor class of people, lying on the ground bayoneted. The house had been looted and everything smashed.
(11)
W. F——, Sapper, 17th R.E.:—About September 7th, near Lagny, we arrived at the village; stopped there for four hours while our artillery were in action. We had a house pointed out to us by the villagers; there was a broken motor bicycle outside, and in the room against the wall we found one of our despatch riders with an officer’s sword sticking through him. Our sergeant and our section officer told us that the villagers said that he came one night, having lost his way, and knocked at the door of the house, which was occupied by German officers; they let him in and then killed him. The house was in a terrible state, everything pulled to pieces. Sapper W—— of our company was the first to find the house.
(12)
Private M——, 1st Gordons, — Co.:—On October 24th, at La Bassée, the Germans broke through our lines, and as we retreated I was hit in the hip with a shell. The Germans crossed over our trenches and charged till they met our reserves and were driven back. I saw Private E—— (of Portsmouth) of my Company lying wounded in the hip. As they passed, some stepped on top of me, some jumped over me, while others as they passed E—— kicked him and stamped on his face. When he was brought into the dressing-station his face was absolutely black. I never heard anything more of him.
(13)
J. G——, Lance-Corporal, King’s Own, 1st Batt.:—At the end of November, the second day after we arrived at Nieppe, two of us entered an estaminet and found the landlady crying; she told us that about thirteen Germans violated her daughter and shot her husband against a wall in front of her eyes. She said there were a lot of other cases in Nieppe.
(14)
J. A——, Private, 1st Camerons:—It was about October 23rd, at St. Jean (Ypres). We retired, owing to shortage of ammunition, and left two wounded in the trench. When we came back one of them was lying about 20 yards behind the trenches stripped stark naked. We had left him behind covered with a waterproof cloak.
When darkness set in, on retiring, I waited behind to carry in one of the wounded. I lost the road and walked into the German lines with my comrade on my back. I was seized and my hands tied in front; I was then kicked by several German soldiers and thrown into a cellar. They kept pointing a bayonet at my heart. They took away all my food, tobacco, private letters, everything, and ate my food in front of me. After about twenty hours the East Surreys came up and released us.
(15)
J. W. D——, Private, 1st Batt. Cheshires:—On November 14th, at Ypres, the Germans broke in our trenches and as we tried to get out most of us were shot. As they retreated, after being driven back from the communication trenches, at about 4.45 on the Saturday (November 14th), I was lying wounded in the leg at the bottom of the trench unable to rise and a German officer stooped down and shot me in the thigh. I saw the same thing done by other Germans to other men of my company.
(16)
C. R. A——, Private, 10th King’s Liverpool Scottish:—At Kemmel (I think), a place between Ypres and Armentières, not far from Locre—Kemmel is just close to the trenches, and about the size of Appleby—I, with two or three others, was out looking for vegetables for the officers (I was sent for because I speak French), and we were looking to see if any one remained in the house. While doing this I came across the R.F.A., who took us to their head-quarters and supplied us with vegetables, etc. Further up the valley we came upon a man in civilian clothes who was standing in a doorway. The house had not been damaged by shell fire, as practically all the rest were. We began to talk. He told me in French that he was too old for the army, but had a son-in-law in the Belgian Army. When the Germans came they ransacked all the houses. Of those who came to his house some held him off with arms pointed at him, whilst others outraged his daughter-in-law who was about to give birth to a child. When I was there this poor woman had been sent away.
(17)
Private C——, York L. I., 2nd Batt.:—
(1) About November 17th or 20th, near Ypres, I was with the machine gun which was put out of action; I then went into my own company’s trenches. As it was getting dark, the advance was made and we were up to the wire entanglements; we were driven back by superior numbers. Having gained our own trench, the roll was called and about seventeen were missing out of our Co., Corpl. R—— being amongst them. Under cover of darkness our reinforcements came up and we advanced again. We could only find seven wounded of the men missing and no German wounded at all. At the back of their trenches was a wood where we lost the Germans. So we dropped back to their trench. About three days afterwards they attacked in large numbers, but were repulsed and were driven back further than they had advanced. In our advance we came to a farm and a barn half full of potatoes where we found three of our wounded and two dead. Some of our men carried them out, and while we carried them one of the others died. Corporal R—— (who was among the five) was the worst wounded—he had been shot through the shoulder, and was insensible with both his eyes gouged out and his right arm hacked off. Our O.C. told us on a parade that it was done with a bayonet. He was sent home I heard to a hospital.
(2) At a village about 3 miles S.E. of Ypres, about three weeks next Monday, forty-five of us advanced to rush a house; only seven of us returned. As we were advancing they opened fire on us with a machine gun. We were only about fifteen strong when we got there. We had to break an entrance through the window. We heard shouts and a disturbance inside; it was the Germans making for the cellars. Captain A—— went upstairs after leaving some men on the cellar steps; I followed him. In the back room upstairs was a maxim gun. In one of the other rooms was a girl about fifteen—she had nothing on except a man’s overcoat. When we broke into the room we thought she was absolutely mad. She cried out something, but we could not understand what it was. She rushed out of the room into the front bedroom which was locked. We smashed it in with our rifle butts and there found a woman, her mother, with her right breast all bleeding, and her clothes torn—her breast had been cut as if with a sword, not a bayonet. We used our field bandages and made her as comfortable as we could and sent a volunteer back for stretcher-bearers.
[This soldier was at times in great pain when he spoke, but his mind was clear. I am convinced he spoke the truth.—J. H. M.]
(18)
Corporal D——, Loyal North Lancs., 1st Batt.:—At Ypres, end of November, I was in the trenches, and I saw two of our men, who had been sent out as snipers, hit, and the Germans motioned to them to come into their trenches (which were about 80 yards from ours); they began to crawl in, and as they got on the parapet of the trench the Germans shot them.
(19)
J. A——, Private, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 2nd Batt.:—About the beginning of December we were billeted in the outskirts of Armentières, and were allowed out between twelve and three. We passed a man standing at his door, and he asked us if we had any bully beef—we said no, but we offered him a packet of cigarettes. We stood at the door talking and his wife and children came to the door. The woman looked bad—very delicate looking. He then told us that nine Germans had stopped in the house, and some of them had outraged his wife while he was in the house. He spoke very fair English. Private McM—— and S—— were with me.
(20)
Private K——, 1st Loyal North Lancs.:—On Monday night we attacked them and took two trenches. Everything was quiet till the next morning except for sniping. At about 8.30 they advanced upon us, and the officer of —— Company, seeing the men were overpowered, put up the white flag, and the men put their hands up to surrender. The Germans advanced, and when they got up to the trenches, they shot them each in their trenches as they stood. I saw this. I was on the left flank.
(21)
Sergeant C——, 1st Glosters:—Last Wednesday morning, near La Bassée, I was in the trench, and I saw a wounded man of No. A Co. (who had had to retire from their trenches on our right, having been enfiladed during the night) crawling on all fours to get back. When the Germans saw him they turned a machine gun on him and killed him.
About end of November, near Ypres, a Belgian farmer (a kind of peasant), who spoke a little English (I can speak some French; I have a French conversation book with me), told me that a German officer threatened him with a revolver because he tried to protect his daughter, and the officer forced the girl to sleep with him for four nights.
(22)
Sergeant G——, 2nd Devons:—
(1) At Estaires, about five weeks ago (latter part of November), we were billeted there, and I and another sergeant went into a café. The proprietor, who spoke quite good English, said that his daughter had been outraged by a party of Germans while they were occupying. They forced the daughter out into a linhey (an outhouse) at the back and there outraged her.
(2) At Laventie, about a week later, we halted; and I was speaking to a Frenchwoman who spoke English. She told me that the Germans had looted everything, and showed me a jeweller’s shop which had been stripped of nearly everything. She pointed out two girls (I think about seventeen or eighteen) who, she said, had been outraged.
(23)
Private C——, A.S.C., 7th Div., Supply Column:—At Westoutre, near Poperinghe, we were billeted about two months ago at a priest’s house. He spoke English, and told me that his father was shot by the Germans against the church-yard railings because he refused to give up the stores of which he had charge for the Belgian refugees. He told us that the Germans had practised a lot of outrages on the women.
(24)
Lance-Corporal L——, R.E., 55th Co.:—Near Ypres, about October 22nd or 23rd, our section was ordered to assist the Highland Light Infantry, Queen’s and Worcesters in a drive through a wood. We passed a cottage on our right where fighting was going on. As we returned I saw two of our soldiers in a doorway carrying a wounded man. When they got out of the doorway one of the two soldiers was shot in the back by a German at a distance of about 80 yards. All firing had ceased—it was a deliberate aim. On the same day I saw two stretcher-bearers, who were tending a man on the ground, fired at at a distance of about 40 yards—a regular fusillade. There was no fighting going on—our other troops were about 300 or 400 yards ahead, and these snipers had been left behind by the Germans for the express purpose of picking off our wounded.
(25)
Private S——, 1st Northampton:—On the day after General F—— was killed (he was an artillery general), on the Monday, we advanced 14 miles, about, and bivouacked in a field. From our bivouac, about one mile distant, there was a little farm. We went to the farm to fill our water bottles, and a woman told us that her two daughters (whom we also saw) had been outraged the previous night by twelve or fourteen Germans. The woman spoke English quite well—at least, well enough for me to understand—very distinctly. The woman was not excited, but greatly distressed, and the two girls (one child sixteen, the other about nineteen—in fact, I think the woman said that the one was not sixteen) were still more distressed; they were in a pitiful plight. Listening to the story with me were Company Sergeant-Major M—— of D. Co., also Sergeant S——, also D. Co., and Corporal C——, likewise of D. Co.
(26)
Captain F——, 2nd Batt. Coldstreams:—
(1) On the Rentel ridge, near Ypres, and south of Sonnen, I have seen repeated cases of deliberate firing on stretcher-bearers which admitted of no doubt.
(2) On the Aisne, on a Monday (either September 13th or 14th) at Soupir, there was a bad case of trickery with the white flag. The Germans advanced from a farm-house with white flags at the end of their rifles, and on our men rushing forward, despite the warning of their officers, to take prisoners, they were shot down. We lost a whole company of the 3rd Batt. Coldstreams in this way.
(27)
Private L——, in the 1st Cornwall L.I.:—On September 9th (Wednesday) at Montreuil, I was wounded and being carried by two of ours, when about a quarter-mile from the firing-line I and other wounded were being brought down an exposed slope; the moment we appeared a machine-gun about 400 yards distant opened fire on us—several wounded hit.
(28)
Private W——, in the 1st Camerons:—On the Aisne, September 14th, I was told by Sergeant Major C—— of Camerons that Captain H—— (commanding our Company) was lying in a field having his wounds dressed by one of our own bandsmen acting as stretcher-bearer. Captain H—— and stretcher-bearer were shot by a German officer. The Sergeant-Major (who had been taken prisoner by the Germans) saw this happen.
[Note.—This story was fully corroborated, without variation, by several other Camerons whom I met in other wards, and also by the Colonel of the Camerons, with whom I discussed the matter at General Hospital No. 4 (Paris) at Versailles.—J. H. M.]
(29)
Private W—— (the same):—We were advancing, Black Watch on our right, Scots Guards on our left. Germans put up white flag and we advanced to take prisoners. At thirty yards they opened their ranks, and machine-guns concealed behind fired upon us, the Germans in front also firing their rifles.
(30)
Private S——, 1st Batt. Glosters:—On August 26th, first day of retreat from Fevrel, we were leaving the trenches, B. Co. covering us on the left. It was just where Captain S—— was shot. Private L——, who had been shot twice, was bayoneted when lying on the ground by two Germans. I and the whole Company saw it.
(31)
Private B——, West Yorks:—On September 20th, 300 Germans ran up with a German officer and white flag, surrendering. About a thousand Germans followed and captured our Company of about 220. They bayoneted Sergeant-Major A—— after surrender of the Company, and shot majority of the Company. I was only three yards from Sergeant-Major when it happened. I fell over a hedge into a stone quarry and escaped. Here it was that Major I—— was killed. Later the Durhams came up and we got off.
(32)
Private (Lance-Corporal) C——, 1st East Lancs:—About September 6th, Château de Perense, near Jouasse, Seine et Marne, about 700 Germans, coming out of a wood, dropped their rifles and held up their hands; whistle sounded “cease fire.” Two Companies sent up to accept surrender, and when within about ten yards the Germans ran back to the wood and their troops in wood opened fire on the two companies (i.e. on about 450 men).
(33)
Private C—— (the same):—Passed through a village recently occupied by drunken Germans. Women raving. Saw two women with bruised faces and black eyes. Lieut. M—— said they had attempted to resist outrage by Germans.
(34)
Private M——, Notts and Derby:—On September 20th (Sunday) in trenches on Aisne, seventy Germans came up with white flag; we let them come up and then went out to take them. They then opened fire just as their reinforcements came up, and killed many men of the West Yorks, Notts and Derby, and Durhams.
(35)
The same:—On the Monday morning we went out to find our wounded and discovered an English soldier with ten or fourteen bayonet wounds—there had been no bayonet fighting with the Germans.
(36)
Private H——, 2nd Batt. Duke of Wellington’s:—On September 8th and 9th, at Nogent-sur-le-Marne, advancing through the Forest of Crecy, heard on all sides stories of women outraged. I was told by Mme. S—— (Veuve) an elderly lady, who was the widow of an Englishman and spoke English, that an officer had outraged her servant in the house. The servant stood by crying as Mme. S—— told the story. Mme. S—— gave me her address—here it is in my pocket-book:—4 rue de Lafaulette, Nogent-sur-le-Marne.
(37)
J. B——, Despatch Rider, Signal Co. 1st Div. R.E.:—About September 16th, near Paissy. At a distance of about 300 yards we saw through our glasses one of our despatch-riders (A—— of Signal Co., R.E.), shot while riding his motor-cycle; he fell off, and while lying on ground was speared by three Uhlans, one after the other. Uhlans attempted to burn him with his own petrol, but made off when they saw us coming. We found his body half-burned when we reached it.
(38)
Sergeant D——, 1st Cornwalls:—About September 9th, near 6 p.m., Battle of the Aisne, I was with a platoon with orders to remain behind and delay German advance. We couldn’t see any Germans, and we therefore had done no firing for quite an hour. Our ambulance was out picking up wounded. My platoon was marching back to rejoin our Company; we were carrying our rifles. R.A.M.C. were picking up Lieut. E—— when they were fired on from the woods at a distance of about 300 yards, a regular fusillade. Lieut. E—— badly hit. Ambulance had to gallop off out of range, and we made off. Ambulance was broadside on to the enemy, and must therefore have been unmistakable.
(39, 40 and 41)
Statements taken down, after cross-examination by a Staff Officer at General Headquarters, as to incidents in the neighbourhood at Ypres:
(1) Private B. S——, 1st Black Watch, says that he saw Germans bayonet our wounded as they lay on the ground. He was wounded in the leg himself, but, seeing this, he managed to get away.
Afterwards he was with German wounded, who told him that they had been ordered to kill all English prisoners.
(2) Private W. W——, 1st Black Watch, says that he was in a reserve trench and saw the Germans bayoneting our wounded 40 or 50 yards in front of him. He was wounded in the arm and taken prisoner, but was sent for water for wounded Germans and escaped.
Says the wounded Germans in our charge told him that they had been told to kill all English and take no prisoners.
(3) Statement of Private M——, Cameron Highlanders attached.
I saw this man, and consider him thoroughly reliable as to the facts of the case.
He says that he saw one German place the butt of his rifle on the wounded man’s chest and hold him while the other one shot him. Our reinforcements were heard coming up immediately afterwards, and the Germans ran away. The men were Prussian Guard.
“I was shot while retiring, and took shelter behind a hedge which I had fallen through. A wounded man of the Black Watch was lying close beside me groaning. The Germans came up behind the hedge and fired through it. Two came through and I saw one deliberately place his rifle to the wounded Highlander’s head and shoot him. The features of the wounded German who came into hospital with me in the same convoy are identically those of the man I saw commit the action.”
(42 and 43)
Summary of Statements taken by a Captain in the Sherwood Foresters:
(1) The undermentioned privates state that on October 20th, 1914, they saw German soldiers killing our wounded, and can swear to the same. [There follow three names of privates in the 2nd Sherwood Foresters.]
(2) The men mentioned below make the following statement: that on November 1st, 1914, two German soldiers were seen both delivering blows on our wounded with rifle-butts, and shooting them. [There follow names of four privates in the Lincolnshire Regiment, and one in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.]
(44)
Statement made by a private in the Loyal North Lancs.:
On or about December 21st, I think near Neuve Chapelle, we were ordered up to the trenches occupied by the Gurkhas. We got over them and lined a ditch—some of ours wounded there. We charged, and they started with hand bombs. On our right was Captain Smart, shot in the head. We had to retire; an hour and a half later we advanced again, and here I found one of our wounded with his throat cut (he had been shot previously). I heard of others with their throats cut. I lay down close to him. Dawn was just breaking. We had to retire again, and the bodies were left there.
(45)
A Brigadier-General of the British Cavalry Corps:
On September 6th, the day before we got to Rebais, we passed a lonely farm where we found a shepherd with the top of his head blown off by a rifle-shot. He had been asked by the Germans for bread, and, on failing to produce any, had been shot.
(46)
Statement by Major ——, O.C. of a Cavalry Field Ambulance:—On October 17th, at Moorslede, north-east of Ypres, the Germans were reported as having strangled a young baker in this place. The inhabitants stated that he had been taken by the Germans to bake for them, and that he attempted to escape. The enemy caught him and stuffed a woollen scarf he was wearing down his throat, causing suffocation. One of my officers, Lieut. P——, viewed the body in the convent next day, and found the scarf stuffed in the man’s throat.
(47)
Private R. McK——, 2nd Royal Irish:—On the advance from the Marne to the Aisne in September, we passed through a village and saw a baby propped up at the window like a doll. About six of us went into the house, with a sergeant, and found the child dead—bayoneted. We found a tottering kind of old man, a middle-aged woman, and a youth, all bayoneted. In another village our interpreter pointed out to us two girls who were crying; he told us they had been ravished.
(48)
Driver B——, R.F.A.:—Somewhere between Chantilly and Villers-Cotterets, about the end of August, just after we started advancing, we were marching through a village, and the villagers called us into a house and showed us the body of a middle-aged man, with both arms cut off by a sword, pointed to him and said “Allemands.” They told our R.A.M.C. men in French that he had been killed when trying to protect his daughter.
In the next village, before we got to the Aisne, the villagers showed us the dead body of a woman, naked, on the ground, badly mutilated, her breasts cut off, and her body ripped up. They said “Allemands.”
(49)
Private F. W. M——, Leicesters:—I think it was in October, after we had left the Aisne and were on the march. About a week before we got to Armentières, we went through a small village, halted, and I and a man named C——, of my company, were searching a hedge for wood, and came across a baby with a single vest on it, as if it had been taken straight from bed, and nearly cut in half, as if by a sabre.
(50)
Private G. R——, Bedfords:—Somewhere between October 14th and 17th, at a village about fifteen miles from Ypres, a boy was brought in from a farm-house, the people having sent in for surgical assistance for a boy who was wounded. I saw him brought in by some of our men to an estaminet—he had five sabre-cuts. His sister told us that the Uhlans had chased him round the farm because he had cried out something to them. He looked as if he would not live. One of our R.A.M.C. bound up his wounds.
(51)
Private W. D——, Hampshires:—About seven weeks ago, when the Germans tried hard to break through, we were about two hours from a place which we call the Château, where the Germans pitched shells every day, especially at a big tower place which is there. Our platoons were in the trenches in the order left to right of 5, 6, 7, 8, and then came C Company in their trenches. The wounded left with the dead in the C trench were half buried by its having been blown in. The Germans enfiladed the wounded, shot them, bayoneted them, jumped on them.
(52)
Private B——, Royal West Kents:—Early in September, in the advance from Coulommiers, I saw two British cavalrymen lying dead on the ground, their arms stretched out like a cross and their hands pinned by Uhlan lances.
(53)
Private J. C——, Scots Guards:—Last Monday night, the other side the canal bank at a place I think they call “Karuchi,” the Manchesters were surrounded. We were in support and advanced to their help.... We re-took the trenches. In the second trench, when we got there, we found many Manchesters who had been shot first and then bayoneted, as they lay wounded, by the Germans when capturing the trench.
(54)
Private P——, Cornwalls:—In the early part of September in our advance, in all the villages the Germans had smashed everything for mere sport—the place stank with the dead bodies of pigs and chickens which they had killed and left in the road. We found scent-bottles thrown all over the road—mirrors smashed and furniture—lovely furniture—thrown into the street, and pictures cut.
(55)
Private W. T——, Welsh Regiment:—On the retreat from Mons in August we came upon a woman tied to a tree. She was quite dead. Her throat was cut. I believe she had been outraged.... The time was about 5 p.m. It was quite light. I should say the woman’s age was between eighteen and twenty-two. The men cut her down. I saw them do it. I do not know what became of the body as we had to go on. I expect it was Uhlans who had done this.
(56)
Corps Expéditionnaire anglais, 5ᵉ Division d’Infanterie, 7ᵉ Groupe de Gendarmerie. Objet: Actes repréhensibles commis par des soldats allemands.
Rapport du Capitaine Pigeanne, Commandant le détachement de Gendarmerie attaché à la 5ᵉ Division d’Infanterie anglaise, sur des actes repréhensibles commis par des soldats de l’armée allemande.
Le 10 septembre courant, en parcourant avec quelques gendarmes de mon détachement, en exécution de l’Art. 109 du Service de la Gendarmerie en campagne (31 juillet, 1911), un terrain sur lequel avait eu lieu la veille, un engagement, j’ai fait, au lieu dit “Laroche,” commune de Montreuil-aux-Lions (Seine-et-Marne) les constatations suivantes:
Un soldat d’infanterie anglaise avait été tué sur la lisière d’un petit-bois bordant la route de Mery à Montreuil-aux-Lions.
Il avait été atteint par des balles de fusil, au cou et à la poitrine.
Il était tombé et était resté étendu sur le dos.
Son cadavre fut mutilé la face avait été complètement aplatie et écraseé, très probablement par des coups donnés avec la crosse d’un fusil ou même avec le talon de la chaussure.
Cet acte fut certainement commis par des soldats allemands du 48 regiment d’Infanterie, car six cadavres d’Allemands de ce même régiment furent trouvés à 100 mètres au plus de cet endroit.
Une femme se trouvait sur la route tout près de là. Des qu’elle me vit elle s’approcha de moi et encore sous le coup d’une vive indignation elle me fit le récit suivant:
“Hier, 9 septembre, dans l’après-midi, pendant le combat un soldat fut blessé. Il avait été atteint à une jambe. Malgré sa blessure, il parvint à se traîner jusque chez moi, à la maison que vous voyez sur la colline, au lieu dit Pisseloup.
“Il me parla, je ne le compris pas.
“Je lui fis un premier pansement dès qu’il en eût montré sa blessure et le fis étendre sur mon lit.
“Quelques instants après plusieurs soldats allemands traversèrent la route et vinrent également jusqu’à ma demeure.
“Dès qu’ils virent le soldat anglais qui était blessé, ils le frappèrent, le jetèrent dehors de la maison, où ils le battirent encore avec leurs fusils.
“Je ne sais ce qu’est devenu ce malheureux anglais, mais je pense qu’il a dû être recueilli ou enterré, s’il est mort, par ses compatriotes qui sont passés ici ce matin, out soigne des blessés et enterré quelques-uns des leurs tirés dans le combat de hier.”
Enfin, j’ajoute le fait suivant:
A Vanfleurs, le 8 septembre près de Poccunente, j’ai encore vu sur la colline au N.O. de Poccunente, et à 1 Kilo, environ, le cadavre d’un Anglais dont le crâne avait été mutilé à un tel point que la matière cervicale apparaissait en plusieurs points.
Ce soldat anglais était un simple éclaireur, tué d’un coup de fusil à la lisière d’un bois.
Les Allemands s’étaient acharnés après lui, peut-être même après sa mort.
Ces actes constituent peut-être une exception et sont l’œuvre de brutes, mais ils sont tellement odieux que j’estime de mon devoir d’en rendre compte à l’autorité militaire supérieure.
II
DOCUMENTS RELATIVE TO THE GERMAN OCCUPATION OF
BAILLEUL93
République Française
VILLE DE BAILLEUL, COMMISSARIAT DE POLICE
(1)
Procès-Verbal No. 2. Meurtre de trois civils non
combattants par des soldats allemands
L’an 1914, le 16 octobre à 16 heures Nous Thévenin.... Informé par les agents de notre service que les soldats allemands auraient tué trois individus non combattants au lieu dit Nouveau Monde, commune de Bailleul, nous avons ouvert une enquête et entendons:
Marie H——, 37 ans, épouse C——, demeurant à V—— Rue, Commune de Bailleul, entendue, déclare:—Le jeudi matin, 8 courant, vers 7 heures je me trouvais au passage à niveau du Nouveau Monde, quand j’ai vu passer trois civils accompagnés par six soldats allemands, baïonnette au canon et qui leur avaient attaché les mains avec des serviettes. Je les ai suivi du regard et quelques minutes après j’ai vu les mêmes soldats accompagnant les mêmes hommes parler à un officier allemand qui leur a fait signe d’aller plus loin dans une pâture. Les soldats s’y sont dirigés conduisant toujours les civils prisonniers; ils leur ont fait sauter un fossé, puis ils les ont mis debout sur une même ligne dans la prairie. À ce moment un soldat allemand me fit rentrer dans une maison. Environ une demi heure après, j’ai su que les Allemands avaient tué les civils que j’avais vu passer avec eux et qu’ils les avaient enterrés dans le jardin de Monsieur Pierre Béhaghel.
Lecture faite.
V——, Gabrielle, épouse D——, âgée de 26 ans, ménagère, demeurant au N—— M——, commune de Bailleul, interpellée, déclare:—J’ai vu le jeudi, 8 courant, vers 7 heures et demie du matin six soldats allemands amenant avec eux, les mains liées, trois civils portant de petits paquets et paraissant avoir de 18 à 25 ans. Ils les ont mis dans la prairie en face de chez moi sur l’ordre que venait de leur donner un de leurs officiers auxquels ils venaient de s’adresser. J’avais chez moi un soldat allemand qui faisait la cuisine et cet homme voyant venir les prisonniers m’a dit, en français: “Regardez, Madame, comme c’est beau: voir fusilier des civils français, regardez c’est du beau travail, on devrait tous les tuer comme cela!” J’ai répondu que je ne pouvais pas le voir car c’était un crime. Malgré ma réponse j’ai regardé lorsque j’ai entendu tirer le coup de feu et j’ai vu que ces pauvres civils tombaient. J’ai également vu les soldats allemands creuser trois trous dans lesquels ils les ont ensevelis. Je ne sais rien d’autre sur cette affaire.
Lecture faite.
3º. H——, Hélène, femme B——, 44 ans, ménagère, demeurant à Bailleul au lieu dit “N—— M——,” nous fait la déclaration suivante: J’ai vu le 8 courant six soldats allemands présenter à leur officier qui logeait chez moi trois jeunes gens civils qui portaient des paquets. L’officier a dit en français aux soldats “Allez vite dans la prairie les fusiller”; les soldats sont partis aussitôt. Je n’ai plus rien vu ni entendu concernant cette affaire, mais j’ai su que l’ordre avait été mis à exécution.
Lecture faite.
4º. S——, Désiré, 74 ans, tisserant, demeurant à Bailleul, N—— M——, déclare:—J’ai vu, comme les femmes H——, V—— et B——, passer les trois civils encadrés par les soldats allemands. Je sais que ceux-ci, sur l’ordre d’un de leurs officiers, les ont fusillés. Je les ai vus enterrer à cinquante mètres de chez moi dans le jardin de Monsieur Béhaghel Pierre. Les soldats allemands sont venus chez moi prendre des pioches et des pelles pour creuser leurs tombes. Je ne sais rien de plus.
Lecture faite.
La femme H—— nous remet sur notre demande un laisser-passer délivré par la Commune de Zonnebèke à un sieur Herreman qui est un de ceux qui ont été fusillés par les Allemands. Nous le joignons au présent ainsi que la photographie y annexée.
Nous y joignons également une adresse trouvée écrite au crayon près de l’endroit où ont été enterrés les trois corps des civils fusillés. Nous donnons l’ordre au garde champêtre du quartier Deicke de se transporter au N—— M—— et de constater la présence des trois cadavres enterrés, cela accompagné de deux témoins.
De retour de sa mission l’agent nous fait le rapport suivant:
Je me nomme Deicke Juste, garde champêtre à Bailleul. Conformément à vos instructions je me suis mis en rapport avec les nommés Coulier Achille, 30 ans, maréchal ferrant; Sonneville Désire, 74 ans, tisserand; Lassus Henri, 51 ans, journalier; Behaghel Julien, 19 ans, cordonnier, que j’ai priés de m’accompagner pour constater que trois corps de civils avaient bien été enterrés dans le jardin du sieur Behaghel. Là nous avons vu, les trois corps de jeunes gens vêtus d’habits civils et recouverts d’une couche de terre d’environ 30 centimètres.
Dans les effets nous avons trouvé un extrait du registre d’immatriculation de la commune de Beuvry (Pas-de-Calais) au nom de Békaert (Cyrille Jérome), né à Zonnebèke, le 29 août, 1891. Je vous ai apporté cet extrait.
(2)
Procès-Verbal No. 1. Meurtre du jeune B——,
Albert, par soldats allemands
L’an mille neuf cent quatorze, le 15 octobre à 2 heures du soir. Nous Thévenin, Pierre, Commissaire de la Ville de Bailleul, auxiliaire de Monsieur le Procureur de la République. Informé par les agents de notre service qu’un meurtre aurait été commis, il y a plusieurs jours, par un soldat de l’armée allemande au hameau de Stient de notre commune, ouvrons une enquête et entendons:
1º. B——, Victor, 48 ans, cultivateur, demeurant à Bailleul, Rue —— —— ——, lequel nous dit:
Le jeudi, 8 octobre courant, vers midi, mon fils Albert, 19 ans, venait d’apprendre que des patrouilles allemandes circulaient dans le voisinage de notre ferme. Il m’en fit part et me dit qu’il allait aussitôt se cacher dans un fosse. Il est parti de suite suivi de son frère Maurice, âgé de 17 ans. Le même jour, vers 8 heures du soir, celui-ci revint à la maison, il me dit que son frère l’avait quitté pour aller à la ferme occupée par les époux Charlet, nos voisins. Je suis allé aussitôt voir mon voisin, C—— D——, que je savais avoir passé la journée chez Charlet et celui-ci me dit que mon fils avait été tué dans la ferme Charlet à coup de lance par un soldat allemand. Je ne sais pas autre chose sinon que j’ai vu le cadavre de mon fils dans la cour de cette ferme à moitié carbonisé par l’incendie que venait de détruire les immeubles et qui avait été allumé par les soldats allemands.
Lecture faite.
2º. C—— D——, 57 ans, cultivateur, demeurant à Bailleul, Rue de Lille, entendu, déclare:
Le 8 octobre, vers 3 heures du soir, je me trouvais à la ferme Charlet avec différentes personnes dont le nommé B——, Albert. Les Allemands au nombre d’une dizaine, sont entrés dans la maison absolument furieux et se sont rués sur nous hommes et femmes sans distinction, nous ont appréhendés au corps pour nous jeter dans la cour de la ferme, où ils allaient nous fusilier, disaient-ils. Le jeune B—— fut jeté le premier. Un soldat qui était à l’entrée le perça d’un coup de lance qui le tua. B—— tomba raide mort à terre. Dans la cour, j’ai vu que les bâtiments de la ferme flambaient. Les Allemands nous ont dit qu’ils venaient d’allumer cet incendie, car ils croyaient qu’un coup de feu avait été tiré de là sur eux. Tous, nous avons supplié les Allemands de ne pas nous faire du mal. Un d’entr’eux qui causait français a fait part aux autres de ce que nous voulions. Alors, on nous a jeté la tête après les murs, on nous a bousculés tant qu’ils ont pu et on nous a mis dehors de la ferme. Je ne sais pas autre chose sur cette affaire.
Lecture faite.
3º. Joseph D——, 14 ans, ouvrier agricole, demeurant à Bailleul, rue — ——, entendu, nous fait une déclaration corroborant de tous points à celle de son frère qui procède et signe avec nous, ajoutant qu’aucun coup de feu n’avait été tiré de cette ferme sur les Allemands ou sur aucune autre personne et qu’à sa connaissance il n’y avait dans cette ferme aucune arme à feu.
4º. C——, Eugénie, née B——, 55 ans, fermière, demeurant à Bailleul, Rue — ——, nous dit:—J’ai reçu à ma ferme le jeudi, 8 courant, vers midi et demi plusieurs voisins, parmi lesquels le nommé B——, Albert. Je l’ai vu tué vers trois heures par un soldat allemand d’un coup de lance dans la poitrine alors qu’il venait d’être jeté dehors de ma maison par d’autres soldats allemands. Les soldats allemands nous ont tous maltraités en nous flanquant la tête contre les murs. Ils nous ont en outre menacés de mort. Ils ont dit que l’incendie qui a détruit ma ferme avait été allumé par eux, car ils avaient cru entendre un coup de feu parti de là. J’affirme que chez moi il n’y a aucune arme à feu et qu’aucun coup n’a été tiré. Je ne sais pas autre chose sur cette affaire.
Lecture.
5º. B——, Juliette, 36 ans, servante à Estaires, P—— P——, interpellée, déclare:—J’ai vu comme ma tante, époux C—— et les autres témoins, tuer le jeune B——, Albert. J’ai été comme eux tous, maltraitée et menacée de mort par les mêmes militaires. Je ne puis pas en dire davantage, mais je confirme en tous points les déclarations qui précèdent.
Lecture.
Procès-Verbal, No. 3.—Meurtre des nommés Itsweire Donat, et Torrez Edouard, par une patrouille allemande
L’an 1914, le 16 octobre, à 5 heures et demi du soir nous Thévenin.... Informé par les agents de notre service que deux hommes habitant le village d’Oultersteen, commune de Bailleul, avaient été tués volontairement par des soldats allemands quoiqu’étant en civils et non combattants, ouvrons une enquête et entendons:—
F——, Charles, 55 ans, journalier, demeurant à Merris, lequel nous dit:—Le mercredi, 7 courant, vers 4 heures et demie du soir, j’ai vu arriver près du passage à niveau d’Oultersteen une patrouille de dragons allemands appartenant au 5º régiment et commandée par un sous-officier. La patrouille a tiré des coups de carabine sur les civils qui se trouvaient dans la rue. Quelques soldats sont allés tuer un homme, le nommé Isteweire Donat, 75 ans environ, qui s’était réfugié sous un pont. Je l’ai vu tirer sur cet homme et celui-ci ayant cessé de vivre. J’ai appris depuis qu’ils avaient tué un sieur Torrez Edouard, 40 ans, cabaretier, demeurant à Oultersteen et cela de la même manière. J’ai su aussi qu’un autre homme avait été par eux blessé à la joue.
Lecture faite.
2º. B——, Alfred, 37 ans, employé au chemin de fer, A—— ——, à Lille, entendu, déclare:—Le mercredi, 7 courant, vers 4 heures et demie du soir, je revenais de voyage en passant par Oultersteen. A la barrière du passage à niveau de la route allant à Vieux-Berquin j’ai vu devant moi des dragons allemands, 5º régiment, qui nous ont ajustés de leur carabines et ont tiré trentaine de coups de feu. Pour ma part j’ai reçu une balle à la joue gauche. Une autre a percé ma casquette, qui a été lancée à plusieurs mètres. A ce moment les nommés Torrez Edouard, et Isteweire Donat, étaient à côté de moi. Nous avons fui chacun de notre côté, seul j’ai pu échapper. Itsweire a été tué sous un pont, Torrez à côté d’une haie de chemin de halage. J’ai vu que cette patrouille de dragons a tiré une vingtaine de coups de révolver dans la maison de la garde barrière du passage à niveau de Vieux-Berquin, où se trouvaient trois femmes et trois enfants. L’arrivée d’une patrouille du 13º régiment de Chasseurs à cheval, qui a chargé la patrouille allemande, a sauvé la vie à ces six personnes qui n’auraient manqué d’être tués par ces bandits. Je ne sais pas autre chose.
Lecture faite.
3º. L——, Jules, 13 ans, sans profession, demeurant à Oultersteen, interpellé, dit:—Je n’ai vu Itsweire et Torrez que lorsqu’ils étaient droits, tués par la patrouille allemande à coups de fusils. J’ai vu cette même patrouille tirer des coups de révolver chez moi. Les trois femmes et les deux autres enfants qui se trouvaient dans la maison auraient certainement été tués par eux ainsi que moi-même, si une patrouille française ne lui avait donné la chasse. Je ne sais pas autre chose concernant ces deux meurtres.
Procès-Verbal No. 4. Viol de la demoiselle D——,
Marie Thérèse, par deux officiers allemands
(4)
L’an 1914, le 17 octobre, à 9 heures, 1/4, nous Thévenin, informé par notre service qu’un viol aurait été commis par des soldats ou des officiers allemands, Rue des Coulons, au domicile des époux D——, nous ouvrons une enquête et en entendons.
1º. R—— C——, épouse D——, âgée de 48 ans, boulangère, demeurant à Bailleul, Rue ——, laquelle dit:—Dans la nuit du 9 au 10 courant vers 2 heures du matin je me trouvais chez moi avec ma fille Marie Thérèse et la femme M——, quand j’ai entendu frapper à la porte de la rue. Je suis allée ouvrir, une lampe à la main, et aussitôt deux hommes sont entrés, m’ont poussé du bras violemment, ont éteint ma lampe et sont allés directement vers l’endroit où se trouvait ma fille. Dans ces deux hommes j’ai reconnu deux officiers de l’armée allemande. Ils m’ont saisie à la gorge pour m’empêcher de crier et se sont opposés violemment à ce que j’allume ma lampe. Ils avaient à la main une lampe électrique dont ils se sont servis pour voir ma fille. J’ai vu que l’un d’eux, le blond, a pris ma fille en premier lieu et l’a jetée par terre dans la cuisine, puis il s’est couché dessus, lui a relevé les jupons et l’a violée. Ma fille se débattait autant qu’elle pouvait, criait de toutes ses forces, mais ce bandit lui appuyant son visage sur le sein, il cherchait à étouffer ses cris. Il est bien resté sur ma fille pendant un quart d’heure environ tandis que l’autre me tenait à la gorge et avait son révolver a côté de sa lampe. Quand celui-ci eut fini l’autre reprit ma fille à son tour et la renversa par terre dans le corridor, où il lui fit subir les mêmes outrages pendant un quart d’heure environ, en même temps, le blond était venu près de moi, son révolver en main, et me maintenant brutalement dans l’impossibilité de protéger mon enfant. Quand ils eurent fini ils ont pris ma fille par un bras chacun, l’ont traînée dehors et je ne sais plus ce qu’ils lui ont fait là. J’ai mené ma fille chez Monsieur Bells, docteur en médecine, qui l’a examinée et qui a constaté que le viol avait été consommé et que la défloration était complète.
Lecture faite.
2º. D—— (Marie Thérèse) 19 ans, sans profession, demeurant chez parents, boulangers, à Bailleul, Rue ----, nous fait la déclaration suivante:—Ainsi que vient de le dire maman, deux officiers allemands sont entrés chez nous dans la nuit du 9 au 10 courant vers 2 heures du matin. J’étais seule avec ma mère Madame M——. De suite l’un d’eux, un grand blond, a couru sur moi, m’a renversée par terre.... Il m’a fait bien mal; j’ai souffert beaucoup et j’ai dû l’endurer sur moi pendant un quart d’heure environ. Quand il a eu assouvi sa passion, il me fait relever et me traîna vers son camarade, un grand brun, qui, à son tour, me renversa dans le corridor et me fit subir les mêmes outrages pendant un quart d’heure environ. Je dois dire qu’après que chacun d’eux, j’étais toute ... et que chacun m’a fait énormément souffrir.
Je ressens à l’heure actuelle de très violents maux de rein et mon bas ventre me fait excessivement mal. Quand le deuxième eut fini, tous deux me saisirent par un bras et me traînèrent sur la rue en me demandant mon âge. J’ai répondu que j’avais dix-neuf ans. Alors tous deux ont dit, en français le plus pur, “Vous devez connaître d’autres jeunes filles dans le voisinage; il faut nous dire où elles sont pour que nous puissions en faire autant qu’à vous-même.” J’ai répondu que je n’en connaissais pas, que je n’avais pas de camarades dans le voisinage. Ils m’ont alors embrassée tous les deux et serrée très fortement, puis ils m’ont laissé partir. Je suis rentrée chez moi. J’oubliais de vous dire qu’avant de me lâcher, tous les deux m’ont dit, “Si vous dites ce que l’on vous a fait et que nous revenions chez vous, on vous tuera.”
En rentrant chez moi je n’ai plus revu maman? Je l’ai appelée de tous côtés et finalement je l’ai retrouvée dans le jardin. Avec elle et la femme M—— nous rentrions chez nous, quand nous avons entendu les mêmes officiers qui frappaient à la porte pour rentrer de nouveau. Nous avons eu peur et nous sommes parties dans le jardin.
Lecture faite.
3º. D——, Gabrielle, femme Maerten, 72 ans, ménagère, demeurant à Bailleul, Rue——, entendue, nous fait une déclaration corroborant de tous points celles qui précèdent et signe avec nous.
Personne n’a été témoin de cette scène mais j’ai souffert beaucoup tant au physique qu’au moral de l’exploit de ces deux bandits.
Lecture faite.
III
EVIDENCE RELATING TO THE MURDER OF ELEVEN
CIVILIANS AT DOULIEU
Gendarmerie Nationale
Déclarations de Monsieur Rohart Jules, âgé de 65 ans, Maire de la commune de Doulieu qui a déclaré:—Lors de l’invasion de la commune de Doulieu par l’ennemi, je suis toujours resté sur les lieux. J’ai connaissance et j’ai constaté tout ce qui a été commis sur mon territoire par les Allemands. J’ai d’abord appris que 11 individus civils français avaient été fusillés dans un champ à proximité de la rue du Calvaire au lieu dit “l’Espérance.” Ces hommes, qui n’avaient pas été enterrés assez profondément, ont été déterrés le samedi, 17 octobre, pour les transporter au cimetière, où j’avais fait préparer une fosse commune et à la profondeur réglementaire. Je ne connais aucun de ces hommes, mais d’aprés les diverses pièces que j’ai pu retrouver sur eux, j’ai pu établir l’identité de sept. Les quatre derniers n’avaient aucun papier ni quoi que ce soit pouvant établir leur identité.
J’ai fait prévenir les maires des différentes localités où résidaient ces hommes dont les noms suivent:
1º. Léger Alfred Désiré Louis, né le 1ᵉʳ décembre 1885 à Amiens, fils de Alfred et de Clarisse Lourdel.
2º. Dequeker Henri Léon Joseph, né le 25 avril 1875 à Sailly sur la Lys, fils de Charles Auguste Joseph et de Hortense Adéline Hay.
3º. Vienne Louis Amand, né le 10 avril 1875 à Tourcoing, fils de Louis Eugène et de Elisa Marie Vienne.
4º. Hallewaere Cyrille, né le 4 décembre 1889, à Vlamertinghe (Belgique), fils de Alphonse et de Gouwy Clémence.
5º. Dequesnes Jules, né 1ᵉʳ septembre 1884 à Roubaix, fils de Henri Joseph et de Charlotte Desmettre.
6º. Ermnoult, ——, né à ——, demeurant à Steenwerck, hameau de la Croix du Bac, reconnu par son beau-frère nommé, demeurant à la Croix du Bac.
7º. Les quatre autres n’ont pu être identifiés. Ils paraissaient âgés approximativement de 30 à 40 ans.
J’ai appris également la mort de Bail Désiré retrouvé à proximité de la ferme de Monsieur Leroy au lieu dit “La Bleu tour.” Je ne connais pas la cause de cette mort....
Madame Masquelier Mathilde, femme Decherf Henri, âgé de 62 ans, ménagère demeurant à Doulieu, Rue du Calvaire, qui a déclaré:—Le Dimanche, 11 octobre, 1914, vers 16 heures, deux soldats allemands sont venus me demander deux bêches que je leur ai remises. Peu après, j’ai remarqué dans un champ situé à 40 mètres environ de mon habitation, onze individus civils occupés à creuser une tranchée. Un peu plus loin se trouvait un groupe de soldats ennemis. J’ai regardé ces hommes travailler, puis au bout d’un quart d’heure ils se sont décoiffés, puis se sont mis à genoux. Comme ils se relevaient, j’ai entendu une fusillade et au même moment, ils tombaient tous dans le trou qu’ils venaient de creuser. Deux soldats français prisonniers, appartenant l’un à l’infanterie, l’autre aux chasseurs à pied, sont alors venus et ont recouvert les corps de ces hommes.
Fievet Charles, âge de 60 ans, boulanger épicier, demeurant au Doulieu, hameau de la Bleu Tour, déclare:—Le mardi, 13 octobre, 1914, vers 5 heures 30 du matin, les Allemands qui occupaient notre pays déjà depuis plusieurs jours sont venus chez moi. Ils ont cassé les persiennes, puis les carreaux de vitres des deux fenêtres qui se trouvent sur la rue. M’étant alors levé, ils m’ont dit que je devais partir et qu’ils allaient brûler ma maison. Les rideaux de ces deux fenêtres ont en effet été brûlés. En sortant de mon habitation, j’ai reçu un coup de poing sur la figure, puis aussitôt un coup de crosse sur le côté de l’œil, puis un droit sur la tête. Devant ces brutalités, je me suis sauvé à la ferme de mon voisin Ridez, située à environ 30 mètres en face de ma demeure. Au moment où j’entrais dans la cour de cette ferme, j’ai entendu une détonation et immédiatement j’ai remarqué que mon bras droit tombait naturellement. Je ne ressentais aucun mal. Ce n’est qu’à mon entrée dans cette ferme que j’ai constaté que j’avais le bras droit cassé. J’ignore quel était le but de ces violences, puisque je n’avais rien fait ni rien dit. C’est Monsieur le Docteur Potié de Vieux-Berquin qui me donne des soins. En ce qui concerne le vol et le pillage tant chez moi que chez mes voisins, je certifie que ce sont les Allemands qui ont tout pris. Une liste détaillée a été addressée à M. le Maire du Doulieu.