Bonjour à toutes et à tous,
Une description des faits :
<< Le 22 août, un détachement allemand se présenta sur le territoire de Bonvillers (Meurthe-et-Moselle), à la ferme de la Petite-Rochelle, où le propriétaire, M. Houillon, avait donné asile à des blessés français. L'officier qui le commandait ordonna à quatre de ses hommes d'aller achever neuf blessés qui étaient étendus dans la grange. Chacun de ceux-ci reçut une balle dans l'oreille. Comme la dame Houillon demandait grâce pour eux, l'officier lui enjoignit de se taire, en lui mettant le canon de son revolver sur la poitrine. >>
Source Gallica http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k1 ... lle.langFR
Edité pour ajouter un extrait des AFGG donnant le contexte :
<< A 10 h30, en vue d'interdire à l'ennemi le débouché sur Lunéville, le général Taverna donne l'ordre à la 3ie division d'occuper les hauteurs au nord de cette ville.
Bientôt un mouvement ennemi paraît se dessiner vers Bonviller, menaçant la route Einville, Lunéville.
Sur l'ordre du général commandant la 31ème division, la 61e brigade prend l'offensive de la ferme Mahon (2 kilomètres nord-ouest du faubourg de Nancy) sur Bonviller. L'action très vive se poursuit de part et d'autre de la route d'Einville et, à 14 heures, notre progression atteint les hauteurs de la Rochelle (800 mètres ouest de Bonviller). Mais à droite, la 62e brigade n'a pu se maintenir sur les hauteurs 305 (1.600 mètres sud de Sionviller), que l'ennemi a attaquées très violemment.
Comme, à 13 heures, la menace s'accentue très sérieusement de ce côté, le général Taverna prescrit à la 31e division d'organiser sa retraite sur Bayon. >>
Source, encore de Gallica http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6 ... lle.langFR
Le rapport de police (gendarmerie), traduit en anglais :
<<
I . French Evidence.
No. 7
POLICE REPORT concerning the murder of
nine wounded men at Benviler (Meurthe and
Moselle).
On this day, the 30th November, 1914, at 11.30 a.m.,
we, the undersigned, Alphonse Rouillon and Paul Pierson,
unmounted police, stationed at Luneville in the Depart-
ment of Meurthe-et-]Moselle, wearing our uniform and
carrying out the orders of our superior officers, acting upon
a request for information issued by the Sub-Prefect of
Luneville, dated the 21st November, 1914, forwarded to
us by our district Inspector under No. 3397 3/1, took down
the following evidence :
M. Joseph Houillon, 69 years of age, cultivating the farm
of La Petite Rochelle at Benviler, declares as follows:
"On the 22d August, 1914, at about two o'clock
in the afternoon, nine wounded men came to my house,
amongst them a quartermaster of the 81st Regiment.
I made them lie down in my barn while waiting for help,
but about twenty minutes later there came a company
of German infantry. Its captain, seeing these French
soldiers, gave the order to four of his men to finish them off
by shooting them in the ear. This order was forthwith
carried out. These poor wounded men were put to
death and their bodies were left in my barn.
"On the 26th August an armed body of Germans
commanded by an officer came and proceeded to bury
their victims, after having taken from them their
medals, and such money as they possessed. I noticed
that the quartermaster, whose name I do not know,
had a little canvas bag attached to the right side of the
belt of his trousers or drawers, which contained one 100-
franc note and three 5-franc pieces. As regards the
appearance of this soldier, I remember that he was of
medium height and that his hair was brown, that is all
I can tell you about him.
"After the burial, a German soldier told me that the
medals and the money thus taken would be restored
after the war to the families of these soldiers, whose
names and regimental numbers had been duly noted.
"All these brave fellows now lie in the same grave,
opposite my house.
"I should add that the Germans compelled me to
burn all that was left of the clothing and effects of these
nine soldiers."
Read to the witness, confirmed and signed by him.
We have established the fact that nine soldiers have
been buried in the neighbourhood of an inhabited
house and of a well which supplies the same.
" It is to be observed that no other quartermaster of
the 8 1st Infantry Regiment has been buried in the
district of Benviler.
In testimony whereof, we have drawn up the present
official report in three copies, one to be forwarded to the
Sub-Prefect at Luneville, one to the General commanding
the 20th District, and the third to our superior officers, in
accordance with Article 298 of the Decree of the 20th May,
1903.
Done at Luneville on the date above stated.
(Signed) Pierson.
(Signed) Rouillon.
No. 3638. Seen and forwarded:
Nancy, 7th December, 1914.
(Signed) Dore,
Major commanding the Company of
Meurthe-et-Moselle. >>
Source
http://archive.org/stream/cu31924026357 ... 7/mode/2up
Cordialement
IM Louis Jean
sesouvenir
