Graves of French Soldiers "Shot at Dawn"

[christophe lagrange]

Hi everybody,

Eric, I have no testimony of an officer shooting his own men, but a testimony of an officer ready to do so.
See the blog of 347th RI, it was on January 1915 during an attack on the Linguet (near Reims).
http://347ri.canalblog.com/archives/201 ... 19672.html
And I suppose that the General of the division was allright with this :
http://347ri.canalblog.com/archives/201 ... 19735.html
It is in the diary of the 52th division.

The stella in Fleury was erected in october 2009 in memory of two officers of the same regiment 347th RI : HERDUIN et MILLANT, shot at dawn (in fact in the afternoon) with no judgement, no war council on the 12th June 1916.
They were rehabilitated in 1926.
http://347ri.canalblog.com/archives/les ... index.html

Henri HERDUIN is buried in the family grave in Reims, Pierre MILLANT is buried in national cemetery in Fleury devant Douaumont grave n°6177.

Best regards,
Christophe

(sorry for my bad english, I hope Mark will understand. School memories...)

[mark]

Christophe, Alain and Eric

Thank you all for the information.

Christophe, No wonder that I didn't find the memorial on my previous visits it's a new memorial.

I'm glad and honoured for the regiment and for France that both officers were rehabilitated. I've read the letter of sous lt Herduin. It's very moving indeed. It only shows the enormous gap between the high ranking officers and front soldiers/officers/nco's.

On my next stay at Verdun I'll be visiting the memorial and the grave of sous lt Millant.

Christophe may I use your information on the Dutch Forum (http://www.forumeerstewereldoorlog.nl/index.php). They certainly would like to know about the new memorial and thehistory about this monument.

Furthermore, I'm astounded by your good English of all of you. Makes it a little bit easier for me.

Cordialement,

Mark

[christophe lagrange]

Hi Mark,

Ik kan daarom nog steeds in het Engels (bedankt voor het compliment).
Mijn Nederlands is niet helemaal bekend, maar Google is mijn vriend ... (met behulp van Google Translate)
U kunt gebruik maken van wat er op de blog. Bedankt aan de bron en de URL te identificeren.
Ik ben blij dat de Nederlandse bezoekers kunnen kijken net als wij in deze periode.
see also : http://www.crdp-reims.fr/memoire/lieux/ ... erduin.htm
Met vriendelijke groet,
Christophe

In english (with google too, it's more easier and I'm tired...)

Hi Mark,

I can therefore continue in English (thank you for the compliment).
My Dutch is not famous at all, but google is my friend ... (using google translate)
You can use what is on the blog. Thank you to identify the source and the url.
I am pleased that the Dutch visitors can look like us in this period.
see also this url : http://www.crdp-reims.fr/memoire/lieux/ ... erduin.htm

Friendly yours,
Christophe

[mark]

Christophe,

I'm moved by the way you tried to talk to me in Dutch. Please talk to me in French or English. It makes me feel a bit more at ease. Holland didn't participate in the Grande Guerre and it makes me humble to meet all the sites and history I've seen.

Furthermore, I'm 52 years of age and I've learned that if you visit a country you should at least try to speak their language whatever the cost. So excuse me if I use this International Forum because if I tried to write French it will be disastrous. I used to work for a very big French Insurance Company starting with an A and I've learned to speak and listen French for a bit.

Once again, I'm proud for the quick responses I've received. I've learned on this Forum more then I've ever read and I hope to see one of the members in the future.

Cordialement, sincere

Mark

[ww1_USA]

Hi Mark,
I can't help you on this either. However, you may find the French movie "Un long dimanche de fiançailles (2004)" (A Very Long Engagement) starring Audrey Tautou, very interesting. Her fiancee, a French World War I soldier, gets shot and she goes to look for him to find out what happened...
Narayan

[mark]

Hello WW1 USA

Thank you for your information.
I 've seen the film on you tube, and I have to tell you that it was really impressive.

Cordialement

Mark